Grant County commissioners award coronavirus aid grants

EPHRATA — Grant County Health District will receive $1.4 million in federal grant funds to help offset some of the expenses incurred during the COVID-19 outbreak. The funding for GCHD was one of the grants announced by Grant County Commissioners July 1.

The money comes through the federal “Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act,” and $5.4 million was allocated to Grant County.

The money must be spent on expenses related to the coronavirus outbreak, said commissioner Cindy Carter during a June 30 commission meeting. To qualify, expenses must be incurred between March and October.

Commissioners allocated $2 million in grant money to benefit small businesses and nonprofit organizations in unincorporated areas of the county, and $500,000 for businesses within incorporated cities. Commissioners voted Tuesday on whether or not to contract with the Grant County Economic Development Council to administer the grants.

About $1 million in grant funds will be allocated for Grant County expenses, and $430,700 will be retained as a reserve.

The health district will use about $209,000 of its grant to hire eight temporary employees and about $10,000 for coronavirus testing for people who don’t have insurance.

Health district director Theresa Adkinson said July 2 that six English-Spanish speakers will be hired to help trace the contacts of people with suspected or confirmed cases of coronavirus.

Health district officials also will hire a communications officer and a person to inspect food establishments and work with businesses. In addition, the grant will include $10,000 for a video conference system.