Section 131-C - Eligible uses of funds.Funds appropriated to a county for COVID relief - county block grant shall only be used for the following purposes:
(1) Offsetting the cost of direct county response, planning and outreach efforts related to COVID-19, including the purchase of personal protective equipment. A county may incur direct administrative costs for the county block grant program under this subarticle not to exceed 2% of the amount received, or $200,000, whichever is less.(2) Small business grant programs to support businesses with fewer than 100 employees with priority given to those businesses that did not receive a loan or grant through the Federal paycheck protection program or the economic injury disaster loan program established under the Cares Act and to support businesses and other entities that are primarily engaged in the tourism industry, including state and county fairs, regardless of the number of employees the business or other entity has. Counties may utilize community development financial institutions to administer all or a portion of their small business grant programs.(3) Grant programs to support the following entities for costs related to assisting businesses during the COVID-19 disaster emergency:(i) Certified economic development organizations.(ii) Local development districts.(iii) Industrial resource centers.(iv) Small business development centers.(v) Economic development corporations.(4) Assistance to cities, boroughs, incorporated towns, or townships located within the county for response and planning efforts related to COVID-19, including the purchase of personal protective equipment.(5) Behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment services.(6) Nonprofit assistance programs for entities that are an exempt organization under section 501(C)(3) or 501(C)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 ( Public Law 99-514, 26 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.).(7) Broadband internet deployment with priority given to unserved or underserved areas.Added by P.L. TBD 2020 No. 24, § 1, eff. 5/29/2020.