Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Nevada to disburse $148 million in coronavirus funds, Sisolak says

Gov. Sisolak Covid-19 Presser

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Gov. Steve Sisolak gets emotional during a Phase 1 reopening update news conference, Friday, May 15, 2020.

Gov. Steve Sisolak today announced the distribution of $148 million of CARES Act funding to help local governments across the state cover expenses incurred during the pandemic.

The money will be distributed to 16 counties and incorporated cities in the coming weeks. Clark County and Las Vegas have received separate funding through the CARES Act, economic stimulation legislation passed by Congress in late March, because of their higher population sizes.

“COVID-19 has spared no corner of the state with its devastating physical and economic impacts. Nevadans took quick and decisive action to help slow the spread of the virus and save lives and now we are able to begin the financial recovery,” Sisolak said in the statement.

Las Vegas and Clark County have received around $120 million and $295 million, respectively. In May, Clark County allocated its funds for items such as testing and personal protective equipment.

The funding must be used to cover costs incurred from the coronavirus emergency, not accounted for in a local budget as of March 27 or incurred between March 1 and Dec. 30.

Washoe County will receive the highest proportion of the allocated funding — $86.1 million. That will be split three ways: $20.3 million to the county, $46.7 million to Reno and $19.1 million to Sparks.

Some of Nevada’s sparsely populated counties will receive far less. Esmeralda, Eureka, Lincoln, Mineral and Storey counties will receive less than $1 million.

“I am proud we are able to provide funding back to these counties and cities so they can put this money directly into their communities to help their local economies and residents begin their recovery from this virus,” Sisolak said in a statement.