The City of Owensboro will be the recipient of a $294,117 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help the city respond to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
“It’s not often that a community has extra funds to help those in the most need,” said Owensboro Mayor Tom Watson. “We are blessed to have (U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch) McConnell and Congressman Brett Guthrie in Washington, D.C., looking out for our Commonwealth.”
Watson said he does not know how the funds will be allocated because they have to wait on more information from the Louisville HUD.
The grant will be formally awarded Thursday and is awarded by Guthrie through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
The funding for the CDBG grant was made available by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act — which was introduced by McConnell last week and is the largest economic rescue package in history.
The CDBG program gives cities the flexibility to use the money as they deem appropriate. Grant money can be used to develop housing and to expand economic opportunities for those with low to moderate income.
Owensboro is already a recipient of these types of grants, and the additional funding will give the local government flexibility to adapt and address the needs of the community during the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are at war against the coronavirus, and the battles are being fought on the ground in our communities and in our hospitals,” Guthrie said.
The CARES Act includes targeted assistance to encourage economic development, address the needs of homeless Kentuckians in emergency transition shelters, and support local services for others in need.
“The CARES Act makes substantial investment in helping vulnerable Kentuckians as they face this crisis,” McConnell said. “Distributing these federal funds to local governments across Kentucky will bolster their compassionate response to this health and economic emergency.”
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The Owensboro Health coronavirus hotline is available 24/7 by calling 877-888-6647. Call the hotline before seeking in-person care. More information from OH can be found here.
For the latest information and data on COVID-19 in Kentucky visit kycovid19.ky.gov or dial the Kentucky state hotline at 800-722-5725.
For the latest health guidelines and resources from the CDC, visit their website here.
