$11 Million More In Coronavirus Relief Heads To Lake County Towns

WAUKEGAN, IL — The Lake County Board Tuesday approved a plan to spend $11 million dollars of federal funding to help local agencies cover the costs of confronting the coronavirus pandemic.

The bulk of the money will go to providing $10 million in reimbursements to municipalities and fire protection districts in Lake County for their expenses related to COVID-19. The remaining $1 million will be dedicated to supporting community prevention by preparing 70,000 safety kits containing masks, sanitizer, and educational materials. The kits are set to be distributed through the community, according to county officials.

"Lake County has been working hard to ensure that the community has access to the resources they need to help get them through the COVID-19 pandemic," Board Chair Sandy Hart said in a release. "I thank all the Lake County employees, the Special Committee on COVID-19 Recovery, and the Lake County Board for their tireless work to set up programs that are helping residents, businesses, and other community partners."

All $30 million of the money the board has allocated so far has been provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act.

Last month, board members voted to appropriate the first $19 million of CARES Act funding.

That covered $2 million of the county's coronavirus-related expenses, as well as $10 million in small business assistance, $4 million in rent assistance, $2 million in food aid and $1 million in utility assistance.