Yuba County puts $1.2 million in COVID-19 relief back into community

September 3, 2020 – Over $1 million will support Yuba County business owners and residents thanks to the Board of Supervisors’ approval last week of three COVID-19 relief grant programs.

            The Yuba County Board of Supervisors approved a $250,000 childcare relief grant program; a $150,000 nonprofit relief grant program; and $330,000 to supplement the ongoing Yuba-Sutter Food Bank Homebound Food Delivery program. At its Aug. 11 meeting, the Board also approved the $500,000 Small Business Economic Resiliency grant.

            The funds for these grant programs are being funded by Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) money allocated to Yuba County.

            “We are proud to be able to help support local businesses and residents during these trying times,” Yuba County Board Chairman Doug Lofton said. “We hope these funds will bolster our businesses — and the residents they serve – thriving while we work to get our community opened back up.”

            The childcare relief grant will provide stipends to licensed childcare providers to support increased cleaning and safety measures to follow CDC guidelines. This grant will also support distance learners, additional staff salaries, and any other costs associated with reopening or expanding. The stipends will range from $500 to $4,320 per site based on setting type. Children’s Home Society, in partnership with First 5 Yuba, will administer the grants.

            Individual nonprofit relief grants will range from $1,000 to $7,500 to help support non-profit agencies that serve Yuba County residents. These grants will be administered through Yuba-Sutter-Colusa United Way.

Funds going to Yuba-Sutter Food Bank will supplement the Homebound Food Delivery program, which has been feeding vulnerable Yuba-Sutter residents since March. In addition to the weekly groceries delivered to residents, funding is also available to provide two premade meals per week from Yuba County restaurants.

            Yuba-Sutter Economic Development Corporation in mid-August oversaw the disbursement of $500,000 to local businesses in need of financial support to cover operating expenses like payroll, rent/mortgage, utilities, equipment, inventory/supplies, replacement of lost revenue, and more. Each individual business could receive up to $15,000 in assistance.