U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., who sits on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, announced this week that the federal government was sending $400,000 to the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council in Largo.
The funds come from the Economic Development Agency’s CARES Act Recovery Assistance and will help the Regional Planning Council develop a plan for economic recovery as the region continues to suffer during the pandemic; aid disaster recovery coordinators as they respond to the pandemic; and ensure the Regional Planning Council has technological and staff support.
“As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, it is my number one responsibility to ensure the people of Pinellas, and the organizations created to serve them, have the funding and support they need to respond to our current health and economic crises as quickly and effectively as possible,” said Crist on Wednesday. “This award supports the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, while allowing us to plan and prepare for what comes next.”
The $2.3 trillion coronavirus stimulus package approved by Congress and signed into law at the end of March included $1.5 billion for economic development assistance programs to help communities during the pandemic.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.