Federal aid figures for local communities for COVID-19 pandemic relief funding were released this week, with cities in the West Liberty School District area getting a total of over $600,000, it was announced by the National League of Cities organization.
West Liberty was the greatest beneficiary of the Rescue American plan funding as the city will be collecting $522,361 while Nichols will get $50,211 and Atalissa is expected to get a check for $42,721. Muscatine County may be the big winner, however, scheduled to get an estimated $8.27 million according to the release.
Local communities may even see that number increase when estimates are revised with the latest census figures.
The first installment arrives by the end of May, followed by a second payment, presumably half, in the next fiscal year. All the funds must be spent by 2024.
The legislation requires the money to be spent on COVID-19 efforts, pay for essential workers, compensation for revenue loss as well as water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.
The funding is part of the recently signed $1.9 trillion Rescue plan bill passed by the United States Senate and Congress and then signed by President Joe Biden as part of COVID-19 relief. It included the third round of non-taxed stimulus checks for families having income less than $150,000 annually or individuals making $75,000 or less. Families would get $1,400 per person, including dependents, in the relief package.