New Albany in 2021: City officials say they are optimistic about new year
ThisWeek group
Calling himself optimistic about 2021, New Albany City Manager Joseph Stefanov said he will begin the new year in much the same way he did when it became clear the COVID-19 coronavirus would create a pandemic.
“Our approach from the beginning of this was to take it day by day and make adjustments as needed,” Stefanov said.
Part of his attitude is because of good financial planning by the city, he said. If estimates are correct, the city will finish $2.2 million in the black at the end of 2021.
30 New Albany businesses receive grants derived from CARES Act funding
ThisWeek group
New Albany has disbursed $200,000 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act money to 30 businesses across the city.
The CARES Act is a $2.2 trillion economic-stimulus package enacted by the federal government in March in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
In November, the city created the New Albany CARES Small Business Grant Program to assist small businesses with at least two but no more than 50 employees in the community’s corporate boundaries.
The city had received federal funding for COVID-19 relief earlier this year, and New Albany City Council members wanted to designate some of those funds to assist small businesses in the community, city spokesman Scott McAfee said.