Somerset County Freeholders Will Distribute CARES Act Grants to Local School Districts

More than Half a Million Dollars Will Be Allocated to Offset COVID-related Expenses

SOMERVILLE, NJ – The Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders recently authorized the distribution of more than $550,000 from the county’s federal Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds to help offset coronavirus-related expenses incurred by local school districts.

“This new funding for our schools is a continuation of Somerset County’s ongoing efforts to minimize the impact of COVID on our communities, whether it’s with direct aid for renters who lost income, business support with our Economic Recovery Task Force, or our expanded COVID testing and upcoming vaccine distribution,” said Robinson. “Now that we can see the light at the end of the tunnel, it’s vital that we all get to that light together and ready to enjoy the new normal.”

Working in cooperation with Interim Executive County Superintendent of Schools Roger Jinks, the Freeholder Board asked school districts to submit applications to offset expenses related to COVID between March and July 2020. Requests are currently being reviewed and will be submitted to the State of New Jersey for final approval.

Somerset County set aside this CARES Act funding to help local schools recover unanticipated expenses not covered by other grants or insurance, including costs associated with graduations and virtual learning. School districts submitted budget expenses are expected to receive their requested funding as long as it is less than $35,000 and they meet CARES requirements and are expenses not covered by other Corona Virus Relief (CRF) funds.

Signed into law in March, the CARES allocates federal funding to states, counties and municipalities to help alleviate economic damages caused by COVID-19.  New Jersey received a total of $225 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds from the federal government. Somerset County has also used approximately $650,000 in CARES funding to provide relief for tenants who have lost income due to the COVID pandemic.

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