Gov. Andy Beshear on Tuesday announced the new federal COVID-19 relief bill includes more than $5 billion for Kentucky. He broke down how those funds will be distributed, including funds for direct payments, unemployment insurance, rental assistance, and vaccine distribution.
“This act didn’t do everything that I’d hoped it would, but it is of significant help to fighting this virus, to getting back on our feet and helping our families who are struggling,” Beshear said.
Beshear emphasized that these figures are preliminary estimates, but are subject to change. He provided the following breakdown of the money to be distributed in Kentucky:
Assistance to Individuals
- Direct Payments to Households – $2,265,302,000
- Unemployment Insurance, $300/week for 11 weeks – $489,614,031
- Rental/Utility/Energy Assistance – $297,396,819
Education
- Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund – $928,275,000
- Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund – $261,015,000
- Governor’s Education Emergency Relief Fund (used for technology) – $60,305,000
Families and Seniors
- Child Care Development Block Grant – $192,822,381
- Promoting Safe & Stable Families – $1,004,000
- Meals for Seniors – 2,259,000
- Chafee Foster Care Program – $5,879,000
- Chafee Education & Training Vouchers-Foster Youth – $899,000
- Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant – $19,221,000
- Mental Health Block Grant – $21,560,000
Fighting the Virus
- Testing, Tracing and Mitigation – $289,654,359
- Vaccine Distribution – $56,965,810
Transportation
- Federal Highways-Surface Transportation Block Grant – $164,914,864
- FAA-Airport Improvement Program – $28,249,556
—–
