KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas on Tuesday announced a two-part proposal for distributing a portion of Clay County CARES Act funding in the city.
Lucas, who was joined by other City Council members at a news conference, said he will introduce an ordinance that allocates $1.5 million of the $11.7 million allotment toward small businesses relief.
Businesses with 75 or fewer employees can apply for grants up to $50,000 to aid in recovery.
"We’ve already created a program in Kansas City broadly that had only $500,000," Lucas said at a news conference Tuesday morning. "This $1.5 million will be for Clay County KCMO businesses receiving grants up to $50,000 for businesses that have 75 or fewer employees."
Anyone interested in that assistance can call 311.
Under the proposal, another $1 million would go to Northland Neighborhoods Inc., an organization that helps Northland families make ends meet.
Northland Neighborhoods will use the money to help families with mortgage and rent payments, utility payments and nutrition.
"In addition to our $1.5 million in grant relief, we are also contributing $1 million to Northland Neighborhoods — it does outstanding work. This will go toward rental assistance, utility assistance, mortgage assistance and nutrition programs in the Clay County portion of Kansas City," Lucas said. "That’s an exciting opportunity for us. A number of American cities have crafted programs like this already. We’ve very excited to be leaders in Kansas City doing that."
A representative from Northland Neighborhoods said the organization already has a waiting list of people who need assistance, and many are having to seek help for the first time because of COVID-19.
Anyone who would like to apply for that assistance can call NNI at 816-454-2000.
All CARES Act funding that was given to Clay County and then to Kansas City will remain in the county to help affected Kansas City families. The mayor added that public safety and health department funding will come next from Clay County.
He also said that the city will continue working with Jackson, Platte and Cass counties on distributing their CARES Act funding allotments.
The mayor will introduce the proposal for discussion and a vote at Thursday's regular City Council meeting.
