Cole County to begin accepting applications for CARES Act Funding
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Cole County Commission will soon send out a call for small businesses, health care providers, nursing homes and other groups to apply for CARES Act funding.
Cole County was given $9 million in CARES Act funding to help relieve costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The commission previously distributed $1.5 million to schools in the county during the first phase.
Presiding Commissioner Sam Bushman said phase two includes $2 million. The application to apply will open Sept. 8 and closes Sept. 30.
Half of a million dollars is allocated for hospitals, nursing homes or any organization in the healthcare field. The commission set aside $1 million for cities and communities, $300,000 for non-profits, and another $200,000 for small businesses.
The rest of the funding will be kept aside, because Bushman said leaders want to have funds in hand in case things change quickly in the county.
"We'll see what our other needs are as we go into October, because you really don't know what COVID is going to be like," Bushman said. "We don't want to be just spending it to spend it, but put it where it is the most needed."
This will be the first time hospitals in the county will be able to apply for funds. SSM Health St. Mary's and Capitol Regional Medical Center are the primary places in the county to get tested for COVID-19.
A spokesperson for Capital Region Medical Center said it's testing operations are currently stable. The center is working with local health organizations to create a more sustainable long-term testing model.
There are many challenges in expanding testing, from finding the proper staff to securing ample supplies and PPE. Once a plan is developed there may be the need to apply for CARES funding.
Lindsay Huhman, Capital Region Medical Center
SSM Health St. Mary's also only provides testing for those who are symptomatic with a doctor's note, or have a surgery scheduled at it's facility.
Testing capacity is still limited in many areas around the country, including mid-Missouri. Consequently, discussions continue with other providers in our community to look for ways to make testing more readily available.
Jessica Royston, SSM Health St. Mary's
Bushman said the commission is looking at ways to expand testing, including using the old health department building for a testing center.
"We just want to be prepared," Bushman said. "We'd like to be able to do more testing if people want it.
Bushman said the county is looking at other ways to expand testing. He said there have been conversations about Boone Hospital coming to Cole county to provide another testing option if the local hospitals can't handle expanding.
He said two people from the Columbia-based system would come down to test individuals three days a week.
"If we can't work out something with out hospitals, we want to take care of our citizens so we would consider Boone," Bushman said.
ABC17 News reached out to the Cole County Health Department about testing in the county but did not receive an immediate response.
