MT needs fed approval to obligate Covid funds in 2022
Mike Dennison-MTN News
By: Mike Dennison
and last updated 2021-07-26 17:16:12-04
HELENA â Montana is âway aheadâ of other states on deciding how to spend its $900 million of discretionary federal Covid-19 relief funds, even though itâs allocated just 5 percent of the money so far, state officials said Monday.
But despite the stateâs progress in setting up a process, Montana officials still are unsure whether they can obligate funds now that wonât be available until next year, said Mike Foster, whoâs directing the programs.
âWe feel like weâre in a little bit of an awkward position, to get this money out,â he told one of the commissions recommending how to spend the money. â(We want to) get this money out to deserving entities, but we canât over-allocate.â
MT needs fed approval to obligate Covid funds in 2022 ktvq.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ktvq.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
A Century on Harmony Street to honor the Kohlmaier cabinet makers in the Irish Channel uptownmessenger.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from uptownmessenger.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
By IRIS SAMUELSJuly 22, 2021 GMT
HELENA, Mont. (AP) Montana’s economy has largely healed from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic but is facing a labor shortage fueled partly by a lack of affordable housing, economists said Wednesday.
A commission tasked with distributing part of the $900 million in federal coronavirus relief that Montana received has named affordable housing as one of four categories it will consider for funding proposals. The others are business innovation, value-added agriculture and workforce development. The commission will meet again in three weeks to discuss proposals from the public.
With housing values increasing by well over 20% in the past year in parts of the state, some workers are saying they can’t take low-paying jobs even with recent wage hikes, said Mike Foster, director of the state’s program for distributing coronavirus relief funds.