St. Louis leaders discuss plans for stimulus money

Описание: ST. LOUIS — We’re getting a closer look at how hundreds of millions of dollars in federal assistance coming to the St. Louis area will be spent.

In a virtual press conference Monday afternoon, St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson and County Executive Dr. Sam Page joined Missouri Congresswoman Cori Bush to celebrate what they are calling a “transformative” funding package and detail framework thus far.

While more federal guidance is expected for the clearest picture on how the money can be spent, the St. Louis leaders say they are working on plans that fit the spirit of the legislation: to recover from COVID-19 and to position the region for growth moving forward.

“I'm incredibly proud that out of the $5 billion dollars we secured for the state of Missouri, approximately $700 million is going directly to local governments in the St. Louis region,” said Bush.

St. Louis County expects about $190 million in federal aid as part of the American Rescue Plan. The budget will look similar to the formula in last year’s CARES Act allowance, prioritizing urgent health needs (like vaccine distribution and education), humanitarian issues (such as food insecurity and housing) and economic recovery, especially for businesses forced to shut down or alter operations.

“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix some things,” said Page. “We must be creative with the solutions we craft.”

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