Politics & Government
Pinellas Commissioners Accept $8.7 Million In CARES Act Funding For Airport
The grant for the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport will offset economic damages resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.
CLEARWATER, FL — On Tuesday, the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners accepted an $8.7 million federal CARES Act grant for St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport to offset economic damages resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.
Title XII of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act provides about $10 billion to support U.S. airports experiencing severe economic disruption. Pinellas County’s main airport has lost an estimated $4.7 million due to the pandemic.
This grant is separate from the $170 million in CARES funding the county previously received to provide direct relief to individuals, small businesses and others impacted by the pandemic.
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The airport funding must be spent within four years.
In other action Tuesday, the board:
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• Extended its state of local emergency for the coronavirus outbreak to June 12. Pinellas County remains aligned with the “full Phase 1” of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Safe, Smart, Step-by-Step Plan for Florida’s Recovery. Specific county guidance can be found here.
• Received an update from County Administrator Barry A. Burton about plans for an expansion of the Pinellas CARES programs. The county is gathering input from community partners about how to use the remainder of the $170 million fund to help residents hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The current Pinellas CARES programs provide assistance for individuals to pay for overdue rent, mortgages and utilities, as well as one-time grants for qualifying small businesses. These programs remain open for new applications through June 30. More information can be found at this website.
• Authorized previously approved capital project funding agreements for $300,000 with Tampa Bay Watch for construction of the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center at the new St. Pete Pier and for $350,000 with the Florida Holocaust Museum for renovations.
• Postponed a public hearing to consider an amended vessel exclusion zones ordinance for Fort De Soto Park to late July or early August to give county staff adequate time to seek input from interested groups and individuals.
This press release was produced by the Pinellas County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.