FEMA Provides $12.2 Million for Colorado COVID-19 Response

DENVER, Colorado, April 28 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has provided $12.2 million in funding for COVID-19 response efforts in Colorado. The assistance was made available under the major disaster declaration issued March 28 by President Trump.

A breakdown of the most recent funding is as follows:

* $10.2 million to the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) for purchases of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other supplies to be distributed statewide through June 30;

* $2 million in expedited funding to the City and County of Denver for emergency protective measures undertaken in support of Denver International Airport (DIA).

The funding to Colorado DHSEM follows a previous award of $16.7 million dollars. The expedited funding for Denver is 50 percent of the federal share for estimated costs for the support at DIA. The additional funding will become available when actual costs are documented and provided to FEMA for review.

"This assistance is a continued demonstration of the federal government's support of Colorado and its residents in this battle against COVID-19," said FEMA Region 8 Administrator Lee dePalo.

FEMA's Public Assistance program provides funding for emergency actions undertaken by communities to protect public safety, providing at least a 75 percent funding share for eligible costs. Remaining costs are the responsibility of the state and local applicants for assistance.

For the COVID-19 response, FEMA has simplified the Public Assistance application and funding process to address the magnitude of this event and to allow local officials to receive eligible funding more quickly. These reimbursements can play a critical role as state, local and tribal officials work tirelessly to assist their communities during this response.

To date, FEMA has provided more than $72 million in Public Assistance funding for the COVID-19 response in Colorado. Additional support has come in the form of mission assignments, where FEMA directs another federal agency to perform work to address needs identified by the state.