State Rep. John Bell recently broke down the General Assembly’s COVID-19 relief package that was signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper.
You can hear Bell’s explanation of how the $1.5 billion will be spent here:
And here are some of the highlights:
Small Business
- $125 million for small business loans
K-12 Education
- $75 million for school nutrition
- $70 million for summer learning programs
- $11 million to improve K-12 internet connectivity
- $30 million to K-12 schools for computers and other electronic devices
- $10 million for mental health and other student health services
- $5 million for computers and other devices for school personnel
- $4.5 million for cybersecurity at schools
- $3 million for non-digital instruction for students with limited internet access
- $1 million to improve internet access by installing WiFi routers in school buses
Higher Education
- $25 million for community colleges
- $44 million for UNC System schools
- $20 million for private colleges
COVID-19 Supplies and Support
- $50 million to enhance Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- $25 million to expand testing and contact tracing
- $25 million for financial support for assisted living facilities
- $20 million for enhanced public health capacity
- $20 million for behavioral health
Rural Broadband
- $9 million to help expand rural broadband
Social Services
- $19 million for foster and child care
- $6 million for food banks
- $5 million for community health centers
- $5 million for free and charitable clinics
- $1.5 million for prescriptions for uninsured
Research
- $29 million to UNC School of Public Health/NC Collaboratory
- $20 million to Wake Forest University to expand the antibody study
- $15 million to Duke University Human Vaccine Institute
- $15 million to ECU Brody School of Medicine
- $6 million to Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Hospitals
- $65 million to rural hospitals
- $15 million for North Carolina teaching hospitals
- $15 million for a general hospital relief fund
State and Local Government
- $300 million for local government coronavirus relief reserve
- $50 million for rural and underserved communities
- $100 million for counties
- $85 million for state government operations
- $300 million for transportation operations
- $5 million for tourism industry support
