Clinton Township seeking grants to support efforts to combat COVID-19

CLINTON TOWNSHIP – Clinton Township has been active in the search for grant money to support services and shore up finances affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
 
Township Supervisor Bob Cannon believes it’s important to aggressively seek out federal and state assistance where it exists to not only help bolster service to residents but to support staff as well. “To date, we’ve incurred costs directly related to the coronavirus to make the Civic Center safe for visitors and staff,” he said. “It’s imperative we seek out dollars where they are available.”
 
Cannon added that the Township offices have been open and safe for public use since June 15.
 
He went on to say he is appreciative of the efforts of Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Paul S. Brouwer, who for months has tallied Township expenses related to the pandemic, and Assistant Planning Director Matt Wallace. Wallace gave details on three federal relief programs beginning with the Public Safety and Public Health Payroll Reimbursement program (PSPHPR).
 
“This is a grant to reimburse municipalities for staff expenses spent addressing the coronavirus during April and May,” he said. “We applied for these funds in July, requesting more than $4.35 million. The entire state budget for this program is $200 million, and we’ve been told if total requests exceed the budget, ours will be prorated to fit the budget.”
 
PSPHPR was created to reimburse for eligible public health and safety payroll expenditures under section 5001 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
 
The First Responder Hazard Pay Premiums Program (FRHPPP) was created to reimburse or pay for qualifying bonuses provided to first responders who have performed hazardous duty or work involving physical hardship related to COVID‐19.

“This is a grant to reimburse municipalities up to $1,000 per person for first responders,” said Wallace. “Municipalities can apply without having given the hazard pay, but the bonus must be paid out to eligible workers by Sept. 30.”
 
Wallace added the Township requested $170,000 to reimburse 170 police and fire workers. Reimbursements and payments are processed on a first‐come, first‐served basis.
 
The Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program provides federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions in support of personnel, training, equipment, and supplies.
 
“This is a Department of Justice grant to reimburse our police and fire departments for costs related to addressing the coronavirus,” said Wallace. “It’s an $80,000 grant we’ve split between the two departments, which are using the funds for supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as pandemic-related overtime.”
 
Wallace said the grant has been approved, and the staff is currently assembling eligible costs for reimbursement.