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There's still time to get COVID-19 relief

Mayor Darrell Steinberg said CARES funding must be spent by the end of the year.

SACRAMENTO, California — During a Zoom conference Tuesday, Mayor Darrell Steinberg outlined the Sacramento's COVID relief efforts.

The city received $89,621,049 in CARES Act funds. Mayor Steinberg said about $20 million were allocated to each of the city council's priority areas: 

  • small business recovery and assistance
  • youth and workforce training programs 
  • homeless and rapid re-housing 
  • arts, the creative economy and tourism  

"We made a conscious decision... We’re gonna put this money out in the community because that’s where the need was the greatest," Steinberg said.

The city awarded $14.2 million in grants to 361 artists, nonprofit organizations, creative businesses and partners through the Creative Economy Recovery program. 

Steinberg said $4 million went to "helping people who were at risk of becoming homeless pay their rent." He said he wants to put more money into this effort.

"We know the housing situation is only going to get more tenuous as the new year progresses. We don't know when the next federal stimulus is going to be," Steinberg said. 

The city was able to provide free wi-fi, hotspots and laptops through the digital equity response program. 

Funding was also allocated to training and job placement opportunities to help local workers whose jobs were impacted by the pandemic, according to Steinberg. He said #SacYouthWorks placed over 1,200 youth in a paid work-based learning program.

The CARES funding also assisted small businesses with forgivable loans, a small business hotline, over 70 free online trainings, and free COVID-19 signs for businesses to communicate safety strategy/requirements to keep employees and customers safe.  

Steinberg said there are still resources available for people looking for digital tools, job placement and trainings, business assistance, meals, unemployment, and COVID-19 services. He said the CARES funding must to be spent by Dec. 30. Visit www.SacramentoCOVIDrelief.org for resources.

WATCH ALSO: Free help for renters to understand their rights during the pandemic

Sacramento Self Help Housing has a free hotline for people to call in if they have questions regarding their rights as a renter. | Dollars and Sense

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