New Castle – A joint report by National Association of Counties (NACO) and National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) on use of federal CARES Act funds recognized New Castle County for using “innovative strategies in deploying Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) dollars, with special attention to programs focusing on inclusive economic recovery and on assisting vulnerable and underserved populations.”
New Castle County was one of six counties nationally recognized in the report, which can be viewed here.
“The National Academy of Public Administration showcased New Castle County, for good reason, as an innovator in its use of federal CARES Act money. The county worked quickly, yet collaboratively, to deploy these much needed resources to help teachers enhance the experience of students learning virtually, assist small businesses and restaurants with grants and PPE, and focus on tackling the COVID-19 virus through enhanced testing and public health mitigation measures,” explained Matthew Chase, executive director of the National Association of Counties in a statement to press.
“We had three goals: eradicate the virus from our community, protect the most vulnerable populations, and build back better by bringing jobs back,” said county executive Matt Meyer in the statement. “From establishing a COVID testing program that is now a national model to converting the former Sheraton hotel into a comprehensive emergency shelter, from providing food to tens of thousands of vulnerable residents to investing in innovative solutions to create quality training opportunities and bring jobs back to the people of New Castle County, we have addressed the pandemic in multiple ways.”
County Executive Meyer continued, “We are thankful to our state government, to our Delaware federal delegation of Senators Tom Carper, Chris Coons and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, and many community leaders who volunteered their time in task forces that set forth the priorities we used to invest our funds. This report recognizes their hard work and dedication. We are also grateful to County Council for their leadership and their support of our agenda.”
New Castle County was the only county in the country to share its direct CRF monies with its state and saw an opportunity to bolster the capacity and capability of state programs through a cost-sharing formula designed to account for program benefits for New Castle County residents.
