County Coronavirus Relief Funds

Counties are starting to receive coronavirus relief funds. Ninety-seven of North Carolina’s counties will receive funding through the state’s 2020 COVID-19 Recovery Act, which established a $300-million Local Government Coronavirus Reserve. Half of the reserve is being directly distributed to counties.

Madison County received $603,961; McDowell County received $994,465; Mitchell County $493,469 and Yancey County received $543,988. Relief funds can be used to offset coronavirus-related costs incurred by establishing temporary medical facilities, testing, disinfecting public areas, implementing public safety measures, and purchasing and distributing protective supplies.

Counties that did not receive funds from the federal CARES Act are eligible for a base payment of $250,000, with additional money allocated based on per capita population. The General Assembly’s nearly $1.6 billion COVID-19 recovery bill reserved another $150 million for local government use once the federal government allows greater flexibility for use, including filling budget shortfalls.