Central Texas to receive over half a billion in stimulus funds
AUSTIN, Texas - Millions in stimulus funding is coming to Texas cities and counties after President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan on Thursday.
The package is $1.9 trillion in total and allocates $350 billion for state governments and local governments.
Texas is expected to receive just over $27 billion in total, with $16.8 billion allocated for the state government and $10.4 billion for local governments.
RELATED: Third stimulus check calculator: See how much money you could receive from Biden's relief bill
Congressman Lloyd Doggett provided FOX 7 Austin with estimates of how much local cities and counties will receive directly or from the state.
Austin is expected to receive almost $200 million dollars and about $250 million will go to Travis County. Hays County will get roughly $45 million dollars and Caldwell County is expected to receive around $9 million directly.
"Often the local governments can spot a need that’s not being adequately addressed at the federal level," Rep. Doggett told FOX 7. "I have confidence in our mayor, Travis County Judge Andy Brown and other judges in our area to identify what are the most pressing needs and how to fulfill them."
It is unclear right now how local governments plan to distribute the funding.
A spokesperson for the City of Austin said in a statement:
"City staff has been working on spending recommendations over the past several weeks in anticipation of the federal economic stimulus funding bill signed today. We anticipate making recommendations to Council later this month to allocate these resources for programs and services that will ensure our community continues to thrive as we work through this pandemic."
DOWNLOAD THE FOX 7 AUSTIN NEWS APP
SIGN UP FOR FOX 7 AUSTIN EMAIL ALERTS
Along with funding for local governments, colleges and universities in central Texas will also receive funding.
According to preliminary numbers provided by Rep. Doggett, funds from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) will be distributed as follows:
- Texas State University $91,252,000
- University of Texas at Austin $85,475,000
- Austin Community College $58,237,000
- Huston ‐ Tillotson University $4,953,000
- St. Edwards’s $11,309,000
The fund totals are expected to be finalized in coming days by the U.S. Department of Education.
RELATED: $1,400 stimulus checks can be seized by private collectors for unpaid debts
The stimulus package also includes $1,400 checks for those making $75,000 or less a year and extends the $300 weekly federal unemployment payments that were set to expire on Sunday.