$150 million for local governments and small business, $28 million for tribal governments

SANTA FE – The office of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Monday announced that applications have gone out for $178 million of CARES Act funding for tribal and local governments. $28 million is available for tribal government grants and $150 million is available for city and county grants. These funds can cover costs that are necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency for the period beginning on March 1, 2020, through December 30, 2020.

$50 million of the local government allocation is designated for the establishment of local grant programs to support small businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic emergency. The local government grant program will also enable cities and counties to make more child care options available for parents whose children’s school schedules have been impacted by the health emergency.

The CARES Act provided funds to state, territorial, local, and tribal governments to respond directly to the emergency, such as by addressing medical or public health needs, as well as expenditures incurred to respond to second-order effects of the emergency, such as by providing economic support to those suffering from employment or business interruptions due to COVID-19-related business closures.

“This unprecedented public health and economic crisis has caused a tremendous strain on local governments and on small businesses across our state,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham. “In particular, I am pleased that this grant money is available to support restaurants, retailers, and other small businesses in New Mexico that have been impacted by the emergency.”

The tribal applications went out July 10, 2020, and are due back July 29, 2020. These applications for funding will be reviewed and scored with award letters going out to the entities within 10 business days of the application closing date.

The local government applications went out Friday and are due back August 7, 2020. These will also be reviewed within 10 business days with award letters going out on or before August 21, 2020.

The local government grants can be used for:

• Purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) required to conduct government business
• Expenses incurred to mitigate the spread—sanitizing, public service announcements
• Public health and safety personnel costs
  • Senior programs
  • Corrections
  • Police
  • Fire/EMS
• Necessary expenses as stated in the Coronavirus Relief Fund Guidance
• Small Business Continuity Grants
• Child care assistance
• Housing/rental assistance