Monmouth County Gets $108 Million In Coronavirus Stimulus Money

Monmouth County has received nearly $108 million in federal stimulus money, and that money will be distributed among all 53 towns in Monmouth County this spring, summer and fall.

The hefty package of government funds was announced Thursday by the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders.

The $107,974,955 is part of the CARES Act, the $2.2 trillion stimulus package signed into law by President Trump in March. The CARES Act was the first round of relief money passed by Trump due to the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide shutdown. Last week, New Jersey's Democratic congressional delegation criticized the CARES Act, saying it did not provide enough money to New Jersey, specifically hospitals that serve poor parts of New Jersey.

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone is not complaining: He said the money will be spent on all 53 towns in Monmouth County, and he will be asking all the mayors in Monmouth County how their towns can best use the government money.

“I plan on reaching out to the mayors once we receive more guidelines on how we can use these funds," said Arnone on Thursday, adding that Monmouth County is on "the front lines" of the coronavirus/COVID-19 war.

As of Thursday, Monmouth County has 5,272 positive cases of COVID-19.

Monmouth is currently waiting on guidance from the U.S. Treasury on what exactly the funding can be used for, he said.

Money from the CARES Act is intended to offset unexpected costs related to COVID-19 from March 1 through the end of 2020. There is talk of the federal government providing a second wave of coronavirus stimulus funding.

Related: NJ Democrats: We've Been 'Shafted' On Trump's Coronavirus Help (April 16, 2020)