Pontiac Times

Michigan is using $300 million from the federal government to put toward local governments and first responders.

The money, which came from the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act fund through two grants to the state, will fund hazard pay for first responders, DBusiness reported. It will also help reimburse local governments for any payroll costs resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Local governments can apply for grants for these two programs: the First Responder Hazard Pay Premiums Program and the Public Safety and Public Health Payroll Reimbursement Program.

Of the $300 million, $100 million will go toward the hazard pay program and the other $200 million will be for the payroll program. 

The hazard pay program will fund compensation for first responders who did hazardous work related to the coronavirus pandemic. Employees can be reimbursed up to $1,000 in cities, towns and counties, as well as ambulance operators and public airport operators, DBusiness reported. No applicant can receive more than $5 million, and grants will be given out on a first-come-first-serve basis. 

The payroll program will reimburse cities, towns and counties for public health payrolls that were paid between April and July. The program is scheduled to have two rounds of grants: the first round to reimburse payrolls from April and May and the second round to reimburse payrolls from June and July.

Local governments can call the Treasury CARES Grant Programs Hotline at 517-335-0155 for more information or with questions. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More information on the programs can be found on the Michigan Department of Treasury's website. Under Treasury CARES Programs, there is information on the First Responder Hazard Pay Premiums Program and the Public Safety and Public Health Payroll Reimbursement Program. Applications for the hazard pay program can be accessed here, and applications for the payroll program can be found here.