Roofing projects at West Hills and Carver elementary schools, as well as plumbing upgrades at most of the campuses to add touchless fixtures are also planned. Mississippi Department of Revenue Response to Requests for Relief ( WJTV) - Federal COVID Pandemic Assistance Funds are available now through the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (MDCPS) for youth ages 14 to 26 who have been . Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an immediate increased need for reliable internet service in rural . Tate Reeves, a Republican, said early this month that next Monday would be the last day to apply for assistance. The site is secure. Even after we were done with the money that we spent, we started getting more calls.". Johnson wants to see the county invest in door-to-door outreach, billboards and flyers in grocery stores to get the word out. Did it? On Friday, the state's Republican governor, Tate Reeves, said he remained committed . The county tapped Florida-based vendor The Integrity Group to administer payments. And dozens of hearings are scheduled to take place before the moratorium lifts at the end of July. More than seven months after Congress and former president Donald Trump created the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, Mississippi had spent only 11 percent of $186.7 million in first-round. After learning of tenants who didnt have a way to print the needed paperwork, she dropped off rental assistance applications at their homes. Delbert Hosemann said earlier this year of the funds coming to the state. Additionally, some states provided COVID-19 specific income tax withholding rules to govern employees temporarily in the state during the pandemic. Generally sunny despite a few afternoon clouds. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The money also can be spent to enhance broadband and water and sewer improvements but not for roads and streets. The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) has received more than $24 million dollars in CARES Act funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to assist Mississippi's most vulnerable during the ongoing pandemic. The home corporation plans to bolster marketing. Social Security payments are not excluded under the law, so states must count them as income. Sections 27-19-79(7) and 27-61-8, hereby declare that because there is a state of emergency resulting from the potentialspread of the COVID-19 virus, it is necessary to assist and expedite all efforts of relief. 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. However, when and how those calculations are done and what impact they have is set by law. Editorial cartoons and photo essays are not included under the Creative Commons license and therefore do not have the "Republish This Story" button option. This site is available nationwide, but services and funds are for residents of Mississippi only. of pot during traffic stop, Police: 2 teens fight over gun at KFC in Mississippi, causing it to fire, Jackson homeowner shoots male intruder in the leg; female also detained, Vicksburg Police arrest man after finding dog with severe injuries at apartment complex, Request a First Alert Weather School Visit, Advertising Non-Discrimination Certification. 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. High near 80F. Because of the ongoing state of emergency resulting from COVID-19, this Executive Order shall be effective until the end of sixty (60) days after the signing of the Executive Order. For information about the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III), see this page: coronavirus.olemiss.edu/heerf-iii The Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress and signed into law on March 27, 2020 is intended to provide economic relief for individuals impacted by the pandemic. "They don't care. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. In order to take advantage of this extension, you will need to renew the policy and then file a claim for losses. 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. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. 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. 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. 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. 2023 Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce. 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. With your help, we've gotten a lot done but we're not finished yet! "Unfortunately, in certain cases like ours in Nebraska, some of the leadership just doesn't seem to understand that it's not as simple as people need to get back to work.". However, some households will still experience a larger decrease to their SNAP benefits due to the end of emergency allotments occurring at or around the same time. When the continuous coverage requirement expires, states will have up to 12 months to return to normal eligibility and enrollment operations. To help ease the financial burden during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing up to $9,000 reimbursement for funeral expenses related to COVID-19. 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. "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. Please reload the page and try again. 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. FEMA approved the grant for Mississippi on Saturday, August 22. The .gov means its official. following organizations: Whoops! After a storm hit Jackson this winter, the Mississippi Black Womens Roundtable gave out $50,000 in rent relief in a matter of weeks. If the Governor of the State of Mississippi has declared a State of Emergency or the Commissioner otherwise determines it is in the best interest of the State to do so, permitted sales for package retailers may include orders and payment over the telephone or over the internet with curbside pickup for customers in the parking lot of the package retailers. Part of the gap between Harrison and Hinds counties might be explained by how each program approached outreach. The county had helped 52 families as of mid-June, and Jones said he expected to cross $500,000 distributed soon. Our stories may appear on pages with ads, but not ads specifically sold against our stories. It was funded by two Covid-19 economic bills passed by Congress in 2020 and 2021, which provided billions of dollars of rental relief to states to administer to people economically disadvantaged by the pandemic. I, Herb Frierson, Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Revenue, pursuant to the power granted to me under Miss. We are committed to doing what we can to help provide relief and certainty to our taxpayers. The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) has received more than $24 million dollars in CARES Act funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to assist Mississippis most vulnerable during the ongoing pandemic. Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance: Mississippi Immediate Disaster Assistance Apply for disaster assistance - after a federally declared disaster, your first point of contact for assistance is FEMA. The Integrity Group did not respond to requests for comment. Our audit staff will resume normal audit functions, but will continue to work with taxpayers that are negatively impacted bythe Pandemic. The Lauderdale County School District is set to receive more than $16 million from the three aid packages, including about $1.1 million initially with allocations of $4.6 million and $10.5 million, respectively, in ESSER II and ESSER III funds. But eviction filings in Hinds County never stopped during the health crisis; many tenants, unaware of their rights under the moratorium, have not taken the necessary steps to invoke it. By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with Mississippi Today. All images and videos posted by MDAC are copyrighted images and videos of MDAC and are the property of MDAC. But she often hears from colleagues that tenants who could benefit from the relief are unaware the programs exist. 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. 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. Higher ed: $50 million for community colleges. $1.8 billion to the state, to be spent by the Legislature. Altogether, the Meridian. Pender brings 30 years of political and government reporting experience to Mississippi Today. Individuals who have never received services may submit a Pre Application through the Common Web Portal. Pandemic EBT program during SY 2019-20 Approved 6/1/2020; Pandemic EBT program during SY 2020-21 P-EBT School Programs Plan . "It's just unaffordable for a lot of people, and I don't think that was given proper consideration by the leadership of this state.". We do not sell or share your information with anyone. The district also is installing new energy efficient HVAC systems in the gyms at Northwest Middle and Magnolia Middle. Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license. For additional support, contact USDA's Hunger Hotline. Challenges have included little on-the-ground outreach in the states most populous county and delays in setting up the state system to vet applications, according to advocates and program leaders. CAAs/HRAs are encouraged to work with other state and local agencies to provide maximum coordination of services for households through referrals. To supplement the amount appropriated to the fund before the onset of the pandemic, the CARES Act authorized an additional $45 billion to the program to cover costs . Find out when you will have to restart your payments. Remember, you must still ensure that the individual picking up the order is over the age of 21.. Food assistance after a disaster Our stories may appear on pages with ads, but not ads specifically sold against our stories. Because the process is so slow-moving, she hasn't heard back since applying three months ago, and her bills are stacking up. Here's a breakdown of how state lawmakers spent the money, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. We prefer Author Name, Mississippi Today in the byline. 9 likes, 0 comments - Legacy TV- Be Inspired (@legacytvng) on Instagram: "UBA Pledges N5bn (U$14m) To COVID-19 Relief Support Across Africa . It's a slap in the face. The Meridian and Lauderdale County school districts are working to spend more than $63 million they collectively have been allocated in federal pandemic relief funds on technology, improving infrastructure and air quality on campuses, as well as catching up students who fell behind academically during the pandemic. In mere days, Mississippi will end its participation in the federal pandemic rental assistance program that has kept people facing eviction in their homes during the past two years of economic turbulence. A list of all municipalities that have established an LRD can be found here. The typical applicant in Mississippi was Black and female, Home Corps data shows. To republish online, simply click the button, copy the html code and paste into your Content Management System (CMS). If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using. We center readers in everything we do, informingand engagingMississippians through reporting, podcasts, events and online communities. But the vast majority of that money has not been spent, and there are large disparities in who is receiving help, and how quickly theyre getting it, according to a review of the latest program data and interviews with experts and advocates. Winds light and variable. According to the guidelines from the Department of Treasury, the states and local governments have broad discretion in how the funds can be spent. Learn about the Department of Educations student loan forbearance program. Altogether, the Meridian School District is set to receive more than $47 million from the three pandemic relief packages. A coalition of nonprofits that works to help people apply for the program said it is difficult to access, particularly in a state that struggles with high illiteracy rates and low broadband availability. Homeowners will receive up to six months of mortgage relief and essential workers will have access to emergency childcare centers under programs Mississippi Gov. Health: $10 million for Health Department to establish Mississippi ICU Infrastructure program. K-12 education: $150 million for K-12 distance learning. The government may assist you with funeral expenses for deaths caused by COVID-19. During this year's legislative session, the House and Senate made plans to spend most of that money. $166 million for capital projects statewide, primarily for rural broadband access projects. More details can be found below, on the FNS blog (also available in Spanish), and in the Recent Changes to SNAP Benefits infographic. Independent Schools' COVID-19 Assistance Grant Fund 18. This applies to the other tax types administered by the Department and does not apply to income tax. That leaves much of the money still up in the air. More clinics were planned over the next month, but they will have to be canceled because of Reeve's decision, she said. Copyright 2022 WLBT. 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. The state of Mississippi has applied for more than $2 billion in American Rescue Plan funds a key first step to the state receiving the federal stimulus money for local and state governments to spend. Thanks to two grants, help is available to these families. Any taxpayer that has been impacted and is unable to file by the extended due date may request an extension from our office by contacting us at 601-923-7700 ordorcustserv@dor.ms.gov., Income Tax Filing Deadline Notice 80-20-001, Leisure and Recreation District (LRD)| 4/7/2020, Mississippi law allows cities to establish a Leisure and Recreation District (LRD). 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. Those include public health, including COVID-19 mitigation; addressing economic harms that the pandemic has caused for businesses; replacing state government revenue that was lost because of the pandemic; providing premium pay for essential workers; and investing in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure. You have to go where the people are to share the information.. 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. The website for the Department of Treasury instructs: The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds provide substantial flexibility for each government to meet local needsincluding support for households, small businesses, impacted industries, essential workers, and the communities hardest hit by the crisis. Applications are subject to review and audits. In Louisiana, officials in Jefferson Parish took over a contract from a company administering the areas rental assistance after learning that only 55 applications from landlords or tenants had been approved as of late May. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. We generally work through that plan as we can with district funding, but not at the rate we are able to do right now. If youre not able to add the byline, please include a line at the top of the story that reads: This story was originally published by Mississippi Today and include our website, You cannot republish our editorial cartoons, photographs, illustrations or graphics without specific permission (contact our managing editor. Restaurant Doggie Bag Wine Sales Allowed| 3/19/2020. When Social Security or any household income goes up, SNAP benefits may go down. If you are interested in providing paid services and goods for disaster relief, . Our audit staff will resume normal audit functions, but will continue to work with taxpayers that are negatively impacted bythe Pandemic. Mississippi is slated to receive $1.8 billion to be spent by the Legislature. Online filing is encouraged! Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Young creatives share why they left Mississippi, Supreme Court chief quietly gave pay raise to himself and other judges without legislative approval, Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. The Department of Revenue will resume issuing assessments on August 20, 2020. However, all impacted households will experience a net gain, as the adjustment increases Social Security benefits more than it decreases SNAP benefits. Due to the emergency situation all Mississippians are facing, ABC is now allowing drinks in the "to go" orders made by patrons for curbside pick-up if the restaurant is located in an LRD. The penalty and interest structure applicable to income tax are provided in this notice. You cant edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. The Mississippi Legislature recently authorized, through Senate Bills 3058 and 3061, roughly $13 million to assist agriculture producers. In housing crisis, the government banned evictions. Many are wondering how they will pay their rent and utility bills. 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. During the pandemic, Mississippi has had the highest COVID-19 death rate of any state outside the Northeast. "Across the board, we're all experiencing the perfect storm that we were all worried about in the nonprofit sector, which is the need is continuing at the level that it did during the pandemic and the funding is going away," he said. On January 24, senators passed bills to move the first portion of this money. Claims will be prioritized based on the timeliness of submission, the basis of the claim, and other factors. 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). Initially, the district received $3.1 million in ESSER I funds and has been allocated $13.6 million and $30.6 million, respectively, from ESSER II and ESSER III, according to the state Department of Education. a proud member of the The temporary boost to SNAP benefits put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, known as emergency allotments, ended nationwide after the February 2023 issuance. Because they are still processing so many applications, Orman could not say how much of the $130 million will be returned to the U.S. Treasury, but since Reeve's announcement they have seen an uptick in new applications and recertifications.". Click here for online Unemployment Services. You have permission to edit this article. 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. Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) SBA Debt Relief. First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Renovations to the girls locker room at Meridian High will open up the space for social distancing and improve air quality, as well as add touchless fixtures in the restrooms. Bobby has a bachelor's in American Studies from the University of Southern Mississippi and has received multiple awards from the Mississippi Press Association, including the Bill Minor Best Investigative/In-depth Reporting and Best Commentary Column. The Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF), through the CARES Act, provides payments to state, local and tribal governments impacted by COVID-19. Please retain your records and documentation used to complete the application. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. Email web manager: webmanager@mdac.ms.gov. "There is a great need, Welchlin said. Low 49F. The Integrity Group also held an online information session, but the county lacked someone to help applicants navigate the process in-person until late May, and that assistance is only available in downtown Jackson. In March 2020, Congress set aside approximately $13.2 billion in relief funds for public schools across the nation through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund. JACKSON, Miss. The state has approved about one-fifth, or just over 900, of the 5,316 completed applications received so far. Landlords now have the ability to evict renters who are not able to pay rent during the COVID-19 pandemic. They just don't care," Walker said. FNS calculates cost-of-living adjustments for SNAP benefits each October. During this year's legislative session, Mississippi's Republican-controlled House and Senate made plans to spend most of the $1.8 billion the state is receiving from the federal government for. On January 24, senators passed bills to move the first portion of this money. Otherwise, she said, the money is going to sit there, and people are not going to be able to take advantage.. As a nonprofit, your support is what powers our work. LRDs are established by city ordinance. More than 1 percent of Mississippians believe they are very likely, or somewhat likely, to move because of an eviction in the next two months, according to a recent Census Household Pulse Survey. The Legislature will have no say in spending the funds going to local governments and education entities. For perspective, the state K-12 budget is a little more than $2 billion a year. The latest available data (pre-pandemic) indicate that nearly half (47%) of SNAP households receive Social Security benefits. The Office of Community Services within the Administration for Children and Families awarded the funding in two separate grants, one being a $9,200,678 grant for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which can be used to help pay home energy costs such as electric and gas bills. Search more than 11 million loans approved by lenders and disclosed by the Small Business Administration. Producers will need to reference their sales, inventory, and other records when completing the MASA application. COVID Extensions Press Release Extensions for the COVID - 19 Pandemic | 3/23/2020 READ MORE: Billions will flow to Mississippi from Rescue Act. To learn more about our cartoon syndication services. by Bobby Harrison, Mississippi Today May 12, 2021, This and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.. Meridian, as a result, will receive almost three times as much as the Lauderdale County School District. Help keep the momentum going by rejoining our member community today. 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 have to credit Mississippi Today. 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. Incident Period: Jan 20, 2020 and continuing. InconsultationwithGovernorTateReevesandourlegislativeleadership,TheMississippiDepartmentof RevenueisprovidingrelieftoindividualandbusinesstaxpayersduetotheCOVID19pandemic. $577 million for the states 82 counties. This provision covers the sale of a single, sealed bottle of wine that is sold WITH a to-go order. ESSER funding is also being used to construct classroom modules at Northwest Middle and West Hills Elementary. Clay Sims, director of operations for Meridian Public School District, said the district generally follows a 10-year plan in upgrading schools heating and cooling systems, roofing, plumbing and other physical infrastructure needs depending on the greatest need. "Its a slap in the face. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. The ABC considers this rule to have become effective March 16, 2020. More than 3,300 requests for help had been submitted. Tate Reeves, supported by House Speaker Philip Gunn, opted this week to discontinue participation in an American Rescue Plan program that provides the unemployed in the state an additional $300 weekly in federal benefits, Department of Finance and Administration spokeswoman Marcy Scoggins confirmed the state had requested the federal funds for state and local governments. We will review the need to extend such authorization and issue a notification if it is extended. It's very insulting and degrading. The impact is not dollar for dollar. Mississippi will receive a $3.3 million share . Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Recent Changes to SNAP Benefits infographic, https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/fy-2023-cola. This program, titled the Mississippi Agriculture Stabilization Act (MASA), provides assistance for Mississippi agriculture producers negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Paheadra Robinson, who runs the Southern Rural Black Women's Initiative in Jackson, said her group traveled across the state to operate clinics for those who needed help applying for the program. 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. These new systems will be significant upgrades for those spaces and will meet CDC guidelines for air quality, Sims said. the whole truth, fx dreamline stock,