Broadband/technology: $75 million for grant program for electric cooperatives and providers to expand high-speed internet access and $10 million to the Mississippi Wireless Information network for communications for first responders and hospital ERs. The MASA program has three separate funds within it: the Poultry Farmer Stabilization Grant Fund ($3 million), the Sweet Potato Farm Sustainment Grant Program Fund ($500,000), and the Mississippi Supplemental CFAP Grant Program Fund ($9.5 million). Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Even after we were done with the money that we spent, we started getting more calls.". Enforcement of the LRD is performed by local law enforcement personnel. We center readers in everything we do, informingand engagingMississippians through reporting, podcasts, events and online communities. That can prolong the review and disadvantage tenants who lack formal paperwork explaining the reason for unpaid rent, such as a layoff letter. The site is secure. Founded in 2016 as the states first nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom, Mississippi Todays roots in Capitol coverage have grown to encompass a myriad of beats beyond politics and policy, including education, public health, justice, environment, equity, and, yes, sports. An official website of the United States government. Code Ann. SNAPs COLA takes effect at the start of each FNS fiscal year (October) and impacts maximum benefit allotments, income, resource eligibility standards, and annual deductions. JACKSON, Miss. Postsecondary Education COVID-19 Relief Grant Fund 17. Cassandra Welchlin, lead organizer of the Mississippi Black Womens Roundtable, an advocacy organization dedicated to economic and social justice, said theres no question that people in Mississippi need housing assistance. He is president of the Mississippi Capitol Press Corps Association and works with the Mississippi State University Stennis Institute to organize press luncheons. It's a slap in the face. She also partnered with local chapters of the NAACP to help raise awareness. Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson and the Mississippi Department of Agriculture & Commerce (MDAC) created a strategic spending plan to meet the needs of our citizens in the most efficient way possible, while also ensuring that the state and those seeking relief comply with federal regulations and guidelines. You're just not being sensitive to people's needs and understanding it.". Next time, 'it will be worse': Jackson, Mississippi, water crisis is a warning, residents say. The financial fallout from Covid-19 has put families across the nation at risk of being evicted. We do not sell or share your information with anyone. The National Low Income Housing Coalition said several other states, including Arizona and Wyoming, have spent less than 5 percent of their funds, and local news reports show that county-run programs have also struggled. Although both counties outsourced the administration of emergency rental assistance funds, Harrison County contracted with a local nonprofit, while Hinds selected an out-of-state company. JACKSON, Miss (AP) Mississippi will soon stop accepting applications to a federal rental assistance program created during the COVID-19 pandemic to help people stave off evictions, Gov. The federal government says American Rescue Plan money may only be spent on certain expenses. She said they would have to bring computers and help people sign up for email accounts for the first time. Many are wondering how they will pay their rent and utility bills. following organizations: Whoops! a proud member of the There are large disparities in who is receiving help, and how quickly theyre getting it. Similar rules apply for the funds going to the local governments. Applications will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. The U.S. Department of Treasury set up a mechanism this week to begin the disbursement of $350 billion to state, local, territorial and Tribal governments as part of the American Rescue Plan that was passed earlier this year to provide financial relief to governmental entities and individuals who might have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In both counties, about 20 percent of the community lives in poverty. Because of COVID-19, FEMA has extended a 120 day grace period to expiring NFIP policies that would have expired between February 13, 2020, and June 15, 2020. When the continuous coverage requirement expires, states will have up to 12 months to return to normal eligibility and enrollment operations. FNS calculates cost-of-living adjustments for SNAP benefits each October. The .gov means its official. The county tapped Florida-based vendor The Integrity Group to administer payments. For perspective, the state K-12 budget is a little more than $2 billion a year. Mississippi Agriculture Stabilization Act, Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Mississippi Agriculture CARES Act Management System (MS CAMS). We believe that an informed Mississippi is a better Mississippi. Here's a breakdown of how state lawmakers spent the money, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Recent legislation created the "Mississippi COVID 19 Relief Payment Fund" in order to assist Mississippi small businesses affected during this time. We are committed to doing what we can to help provide relief and certainty to our taxpayers. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. This means by March 2023, all SNAP households benefits will return to normal amounts, without the added supplement. "There is a great need, Welchlin said. We prefer Author Name, Mississippi Today in the byline. USAGov is the official guide to government information and services, Financial assistance for food, housing, and bills, Financial assistance for housing and bills, Passports and travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, Federal websites with COVID-19 information, Directory of U.S. government agencies and departments. After learning of tenants who didnt have a way to print the needed paperwork, she dropped off rental assistance applications at their homes. It can go for COVID-19 relief, including to offset revenue lost because of shutdowns caused by the pandemic. He was political and investigative editor at the Clarion Ledger, where he also penned a popular political column. This program, titled the Mississippi Agriculture Stabilization Act (MASA), provides assistance for Mississippi agriculture producers negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. MDHS has also received over $15 million in Community Services Block Grant CARES Act funding to assist households with rent, mortgage, employment, and educational expenses. "We must guard against big government socialism where people are incentivized not to work but are instead encouraged to rely on government handouts well after an emergency is over," Ricketts said in March. The money also can be spent to enhance broadband and water and sewer improvements but not for roads and streets. School are allowed to fund renovation and repair projects to improve air quality in buildings, increase social distancing among students, and install doors and plumbing fixtures that require minimal touching to use. After consultation with the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mississippi has extended the due date for filing income tax returns and making first quarter and second quarter estimated payments to July 15, 2020. Other states with Republican governors, such as Nebraska and Arkansas, have previously declined the federal funding that would help residents pay for housing and utilities. Yes. The one-to-one initiative is the big one, to be able to give each student an iPad, Hardy said. K-12 education: $50 million for K-12 internet connectivity, Governor: $50 million for governors discretionary fund, Workforce: $55 million for workforce development, Local government: $70 million for cities and counties. Emergency Relief Vehicles - Credentials for IFTA - IRP Extended, COVID Extensions Press Release| 3/26/2020, Clinton, Miss. The site is secure. But nonprofits in those states have told a different story since the governors rejected the federal aid in the spring. Description. Please reload the page and try again. And dozens of hearings are scheduled to take place before the moratorium lifts at the end of July. DR-4528-MS. These funds will allow us to make sure our most vulnerable clients receive help when they need it.. The librarian told her someone handed a completed one back; she plans to pick it up soon. Together Omaha, which operated the rental assistance application process for the state, has had to scramble to provide rental assistance since then, said CEO Mike Hornacek. As a nonprofit, your support is what powers our work. Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization. It can go for COVID-19 relief, including to offset revenue lost because of shutdowns caused by the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/XOCwV6lN5b, Workforce Development and Partnership Management, MDHS Receives $24 Million from CARES Act for Rent/Mortgage Assistance and LIHEAP. "This program has essentially become: If for whatever reason you cant pay your rent or utility bill, taxpayers will pay them for you," Reeves said in a statement earlier this month. IE 11 is not supported. However, when and how those calculations are done and what impact they have is set by law. COBRA Premium Assistance. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska and Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas rejected hundreds of millions of dollars that would have been directed to their states, claiming they were shielding residents from socialist programs they didn't need. Additionally, some states provided COVID-19 specific income tax withholding rules to govern employees temporarily in the state during the pandemic. That is one initiative we found we cannot do without, so going forward that is going to be a priority for us is to fund the iPads absent ESSER funds because we feel it is a necessity for our students to have a device.. Winds light and variable. Toni Johnson, a program coordinator with the Mississippi Black Women's Roundtable, hopes to see an on-the-ground push. You can only publish select stories individually not as a collection. Many Mississippi families who were already struggling to make ends meet before the pandemic have been adversely impacted as businesses have closed, laid off workers or reduced the number of their employees in response to economic shifts brought on by the pandemic. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter. The date is also extended for first quarter 2020 Estimated Tax Payments and the 2019 Extension Payments to May 15, 2020.. Food assistance after a disaster A Mississippi mother has testified that her child's public school is harmed by the state putting $10 million of federal pandemic relief money into infrastructure grants for private schools. I would rather have more money that has been approved for payment than the roughly $2 million that we're sitting at right now, he said. In Mississippi, the nation's poorest state, many are desperate for help to pay rent. The Rental Assistance for Mississippians Program, or RAMP, offered up to 15 months of rental and utility bill assistance for those in need. "A lot of these people were able to afford where they were living prior to this explosion of rental increases, and now this spike is causing major financial issues for families," Robinson said. Mississippi and Wisconsin tied their relief to the duration of the "national emergency" which is currently set to expire March 1, 2022 unless further extended or rescinded by the President. If you are interested in providing paid services and goods for disaster relief, . It has given us the ability to upgrade to some state-of-the-art systems much more quickly than we would have been able to do otherwise, Sims said of the pandemic relief funding. The impact is not dollar for dollar. Individuals may contact their local community action agency (CAA) or human resource agency (HRA) to apply for both types of assistance. The Department of Revenue will resume issuing assessments on August 20, 2020. This Act allocated $400 million to address. Meridian Public Schools is using nearly $4.6 million of its ESSER funds to upgrade the HVAC control system at Meridian High School and to completely replace the outdated HVAC system at Ross Collins Career and Technical Center. Teresa Walker, 45, a hairdresser in Jackson, said the pandemic caused her to lose numerous customers. Therefore, it is not legal for permittees outside of an LRD's boundaries to include mixed drinks in their "to go" orders. Jeremiah Smith, who leads 662 Tenants Union in a small Delta town, said he knew numerous renters who dropped out of the process because it took months to receive a response, and Mississippi Home Corporation was often difficult to contact. Youre just not being sensitive to peoples needs and understanding it," said a renter in the program. The new law creates the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program (FPUC), which provides an additional $600 per week to individuals who are collecting regular UC (including Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) and Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX), PEUC, PUA, Extended Benefits (EB), Short Time Our audit staff will resume normal audit functions, but will continue to work with taxpayers that are negatively impacted bythe Pandemic. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. "They don't care. Not all states have. We prefer Author Name, Mississippi Today in the byline. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Permittees in an LRD can serve to-go cups for curbside service until Restaurants and Bars are allowed to open for normal business;permittees outside of an LRD cannot serve to-go cups for curbside service .Please contact your city if you are unsure if you are located within an LRD or if you have any other questions about an LRD., Emergency Relief Vehicles - Credentials for IFTA - IRP Extended| 3/30/2020. The Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF), through the CARES Act, provides payments to state, local and tribal governments impacted by COVID-19. Unemployment: $181.8 million for unemployment trust fund. Social Security is the most common source of income for SNAP households. The money must be spent by the end of 2024. Restaurants and bars located within the boundaries of an LRD may serve mixed drinks to their patrons and allow patrons to leave the licensed premises with an open container of alcohol (to-go cup). The Social Security adjustment only impacts SNAP households that also receive Social Security benefits. . On a state level, Mississippi never suffered a revenue loss because of COVID-19, and, in fact, tax collections for the current fiscal year have been growing. Social Security payments are not excluded under the law, so states must count them as income. MS Emergency Management Agency COVID-19 Fund 20. With your help, we've gotten a lot done but we're not finished yet! The state still has $130 million in federal cash to run the program, but Gov. Thesereturnsshouldbefiled andpaidon thenormal duedate. Earlier this year the Legislature opted to establish a fund to be administered by the Department of Finance and Administration to deposit the funds with the legislators in the coming years deciding how to spend the money. The money is a windfall for schools in Mississippi, which have long gone underfunded by the state Legislature based on the formula it created to fund public schools. A balance of tax due after May 15, 2020 is potentially subject to late pay penalty of % per month not to exceed 25% and late pay interest of % per month. Hinds County Administrator Kenny Wayne Jones said that Harrison Countys success in distributing funds made him think: Weve got to get on the ball.. Independent Schools' COVID-19 Assistance Grant Fund 18. While ESSER I funds were more about preparing schools for reopening and helping districts provide distance learning for students at home, the second and third relief packages were more flexible. Health: $129.7 million for health care, including $80 million for hospitals and nearly $50 million for other health providers and nonprofits, including food pantries. When we originally budgeted for buses, they were running about $90,000 apiece and we had budgeted for nine but because of price increases we were only able to afford eight, Hardy said. Claims will be prioritized based on the timeliness of submission, the basis of the claim, and other factors. That has streamlined the process, because then we let the person know, OK, this is the last thing we need, she said. Instead, were going to say yes to conservative principles and policies that result in more people working.. However, patrons must stay within the boundaries of the LRD. Editorial cartoons and photo essays are not included under the Creative Commons license and therefore do not have the "Republish This Story" button option. The Social Security adjustment is a net gain for SNAP recipients as it increased Social Security benefits more than it decreased SNAP benefits. We are committed to doing what we can to help provide relief and certainty to our taxpayers., Extensions for the COVID 19 Pandemic| 3/23/2020. The ABC has already allowed package store permittees to offer curb side delivery until April 30, 2020. Mississippi will receive a $3.3 million share of the Supporting Foster Youth and Families through the Pandemic Act approved by Congress in early 2021. Failure to adhere to this application restriction can result in penalties, including but not limited to, repayment of funds. Contact Glenda Sanders via phone @ 601-693-1551. That leaves much of the money still up in the air. The Department of Revenue will end the period of suspension and begin to accrue penalty and interest on new assessments and new outstanding liabilities beginning on August 20, 2020. Housing assistance: $20 million for rental assistance grant program, providing grants up to $30,000 to eligible rental businesses that lost rent income from March-December 2020. She's applied for the program, as well as for jobs at Target and Walmart to help her pay the approximately $4,000 she owes her landlord. The mission of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce is to regulate and promote agricultural-related businesses within the state and to promote Mississippis products throughout both the state and the rest of the world for the benefit of all Mississippi citizens. Except as stated herein, all sales of alcoholic beverages shall be made inside the permitted premises. As a nonprofit, your support is what powers our work. If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using. Please retain your records and documentation used to complete the application. by Bobby Harrison, Mississippi Today May 12, 2021, This and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.. Total CRF funding allocated to Mississippi is approximately $1.25 billion. In contrast, Harrison County, where 73 percent of residents are white, had pushed out more than half of its $6.2 million allocation, serving more than 700 renters. The ABC considers this rule to have become effective March 16, 2020. When Social Security or any household income goes up, SNAP benefits may go down. JACKSON, Miss. You cant edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. by Geoff Pender, Mississippi Today June 9, 2021, This and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.. Spivey said a road show later this summer centered around rental assistance is also a possibility. Note: You can read a bulleted list under the graphic. 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