New Castle, DE – New Castle County was recently featured in a joint report by National Association of Counties (NACO) and National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) for using “innovative strategies in deploying Coronavirus Relief Fund dollars, with special attention to programs focusing on inclusive economic recovery and on assisting vulnerable and underserved populations.”
New Castle County was recognized along with five other counties in the report, which can be viewed HERE.
“When we received these funds, we set out with three simple goals: help eradicate the virus from our community, protect the most vulnerable populations, and build back better by bringing jobs back to the county,” said County Executive Meyer. “From establishing a robust COVID testing program that is now a national model, to purchasing the former Sheraton hotel and converting it into an emergency shelter, to supporting our residents by bolstering food distribution programs and investing in entrepreneurs to find ways to bring jobs and work back to the people of New Castle County, we have addressed the pandemic in multiple ways.
County Executive Meyer added, “We are thankful to County Council, to our Delaware federal delegation of Senators Tom Carper, Chris Coons and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, the tireless work and dedication of our task forces.” We are thankful to County Council for their support of our agenda, to the federal delegation for working tirelessly on behalf of Americans to ensure relief and to our task forces for their tireless work and dedication in providing recommendations for these investments.
“The National Academy of Public Administration showcased New Castle County, for good reason, as an innovator in its use of federal CARES Act money. The county worked quickly, yet collaboratively, to deploy these much needed resources to help teachers enhance the experience of students learning virtually, assist small businesses and restaurants with grants and PPE, and focus on tackling the COVID-19 virus through enhanced testing and public health mitigation measures,” explained Matthew Chase, Executive Director of the National Association of Counties.
New Castle County was the only county in the country to share its direct CRF funding with its state and saw an opportunity to bolster the capacity and capability of state programs through a cost-sharing formula designed to account for program benefits for New Castle County residents. The following press release outlines funding for these programs.