Clay County reports 4,600 CARES Act applications and outlines initial spending plan

Troy Nagel briefed the Board on the county’s CARES Act program: staff have received about 4,600 applications combined for individual and business assistance (roughly 3,800 individual applicants and about 600 businesses), processed about 410 applications in the first four days of intake, and reached full processing staffing. Nagel said first checks are scheduled to be cut and mailed "tomorrow," subject to final processing steps.

Nagel said the county has about $1 million earmarked for individuals and $2 million for businesses in Phase 1, and that roughly $4 million has been committed in purchase orders and awards so far. He told commissioners staff are working to ensure documentation and auditability for reimbursements and that the state’s reimbursement process beyond an initial allocation remains subject to evolving state and federal guidance.

On athletics and tourism, staff proposed three approaches to use a $265,000 allocation previously set aside for tourism: provide safer‑event kits (stanchions, hand sanitizer and event signage) that tourism could check out to local events; reimburse restaurants that obtain the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA) certification (a $500 membership fee, with a proposed $500–$750 reimbursement for certification); and run a local marketing campaign to promote ‘staycation’ visits and to advertise certified businesses.

Nagel said staff will return to the board with recommendations if allocation changes are needed once application volume and program take‑up are clearer.