Corpus Christi, Nueces County to receive COVID relief money in May 2021, 2022
Planning is already underway to determine how best to spend about $139 million in federal pandemic relief funds in Nueces County and the city of Corpus Christi. The money comes from the American Rescue Plan recently approved by Congress. The plan will distribute $1.9 trillion across the United States over the next two years. The money is available to communities in two installments: May 11, 2021, and May 11, 2022.
Nueces County is set to receive up to $70.26 million; the city of Corpus Christi up to $68.77 million. The money can be used to give assistance to households, small businesses, nonprofits, or the tourism, travel, and hospitality industries. It can also be used to pay essential workers up to $13 an hour above regular wages and to make investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.
The county will use part of the money to reimburse itself for pandemic-related expenses not covered by previous federal COVID-19 relief bills. Also, it can replenish revenues lost by a drop in collecting fees and fines because courts were closed.
Both the city and county plan to spend some of the money on drainage projects in North Beach.
Other Coastal Bend communities eligible for funds include:
• Aransas County — $4.56 million
• San Patricio County — $12.94
• City of Aransas Pass — $1.83 million
• City of Portland — $3.77 million
• City of Robstown — $2.46 million
American Rescue Plan to send $165M to Coastal Bend
City officials and crews converse over a problem at the Neal Street drainage infall on North Beach on Feb. 9, 2021. In the foreground, poor drainage has caused 'ponding,' where water backs up and creates large pools of water. Photo by Carrie Robertson Meyer/Third Coast Photo