Jacksonville City Council passes COVID-19 relief for local businesses, families

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — City leaders have taken another step to help neighbors and small businesses hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Jacksonville City Council passed a bill that will help both groups financially. During Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council Meeting:

Bill 2020-0355 PASSED

• The $5 million in the bill will help neighbors and small business owners affected by COVID-19.
• The bill was introduced by Councilmembers Michael Boylan, Ron Salem and Garrett Dennis.
• $3 million will go to small business program
• $2 million will go to the utility relief program (which helps neighbors having problems paying water, sewer or electric bills.)

Bill 2020-0380 DID NOT PASS

• It failed as an emergency and was introduced late, by Councilwoman Joyce Morgan.
• The bill proposed to spend part of $8 million CARES Act dollars recently identified as unused.
• She proposed giving $2 million to small business relief and $1 million to the senior relief program.

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