Struggling financially during the coronavirus pandemic? Collier reopens portals for aid

Collier County residents and businesses struggling financially during the ongoing pandemic are getting a second chance to apply for federal coronavirus relief funds the county received earlier this year.

The county on Monday reopened its application process for nonprofits, hospitals, nursing homes, community health providers and public safety providers and will take those applications through noon on Oct. 26.

Money from this pot of aid funding is intended to help those organizations with increased costs and programs needed to respond to the pandemic.

Collier will reopen its virtual portals — housed on the county's Community and Human Services Division website and used for the application process for coronavirus aid programs — for individual assistance and small business relaunch and rehire grants at 8 a.m. on Oct. 19. Those portals will remain open until noon on Nov. 2.

The portals to request relief aid were open for two-week windows during a first round of applications this summer. 

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The individual assistance program aims to help qualified residents and households with past due rent, mortgage, utilities and child care.

So far, the county has received 1,927 applications for individual assistance, according to the county's website. About 1,800 applications are "in process," and 174 households have been assisted with the county expending about $1.06 million.

County officials last month said they expect to ultimately pay out $8.3 million from the $15 million pot set aside as staff continues to work through applications.

To qualify for individual assistance, applicants must prove loss of income directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals who make up to $75,000 per year and households that make up to $150,000 are eligible for the aid.

Qualified individuals "will be awarded one-time assistance up to $11,250 per household based on their specific documented needs," according to the county website.

The aid for small businesses is intended to offset costs of reopening or relaunching qualified businesses.

The county has so far received close to 380 applications for the small business assistance program, according to the county website. County officials last month said they have $50,000 committed so far and anticipate spending $7 million to $8 million from the $10 million allocated.

Qualified small businesses with 50 or fewer employees are able to apply for a one-time grant of up to $25,000

"This second round is intended to offer a second chance for those that missed the first round of applications," the county wrote on its website, referring to the aid for small businesses. "However, if you were denied in the first round, you can reapply; but, if you received funds during the first round, you are not eligible to reapply."

Those who applied for individual assistance during the first round of applications and received funding may receive additional assistance and need to apply under recertification, according to the county website. Those who were denied during the first round can also reapply.

Commissioners in July signed off on proposed allocations for more than $67 million in federal aid money, which included a $16.8 million direct payment to the county. 

They allocated:

• $15 million for individual assistance
• $10 million for small business relaunch and rehire grants
• $30 million for community and health services initiatives, which included $5 million for childcare aid and $5 million for emergency food assistance
• $5 million for personal protective equipment (PPE)
• $7.1 million for reserves

The funds came to Collier by way of the Coronavirus Aid and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, which was signed into law at the end of March. Gov. Ron DeSantis in June announced a plan to distribute $1.275 billion to Florida counties with populations below 500,000, such as Collier. 

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Last month, commissioners decided to continue to hold off for now on reimbursing local government entities and Collier's own arms of county government with federal aid money. Instead, they voted to send more relief money toward the community. 

County officials have said they would reallocate $12 million toward its community and health services funding category, which saw some of the greatest need.

To apply for assistance visit https://www.colliercountyhousing.com/covid-19-relief-applications/ or call (239) 252-8999 for more information.

Connect with the reporter at patrick.riley@naplesnews.com or on Twitter @PatJRiley.