Alexandria is expecting to receive between $20-27 million dollars in federal CARES Act funding, but that comes with comes a few strings.
“All of that must be used for new expenses,” Mayor Justin Wilson said in a video town hall on Thursday night. “It cannot be used for any expense [that was] in the budget previously.”
Wilson said this adds a layer of difficulty for the city government, which is facing a dramatic loss of revenue and forcing the city manager to recommend cutting back some services and several larger plans.
Alexandria’s portion is expected to come out of $3.3 billion that has been allocated to the state to be redistributed at the local level.
“We’ve learned some things that are good, a lot that is bad,” Wilson said.
Among the pieces of good news is that Virginia unemployment benefits, previously capped at $380 per week at one of the lowest rates in the country, is being extended for an additional $600 — bringing the annual total up to almost $52,000 for those currently unemployed.
Wilson said there is an additional $10 million coming down the pipeline in rental assistance for those struggling to pay their bills without an income. Funding was approved last week for rental assistance for those in affordable housing units.
The expansion also includes gig workers and certain contractors often excluded in other unemployment protections. Wilson said these new protections are part of recognizing that many people have been laid off through fault of their own and face difficulty in finding new jobs.
On Tuesday, the City Council will be discussing how to divide the federal funds.
Staff photo by James Cullum
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Monarch Montessori School is now enrolling infants, toddlers and three year-olds for its full-time Montessori program. We offer a seamless enrollment process which involves submitting an application for review, paying the enrollment fee and submitting the remaining enrollment materials before your proposed start date.
At Monarch Montessori School, we aim to provide an authentic Montessori learning experience. At our Alexandria location, we currently have 8 openings in our Primary classroom (ages 3-6), and 6 openings in our Toddler classroom. Additionally, there are 3 infant openings at this time.
Our first floor space is an open concept. Infants and toddlers share the same large classroom. Children ages 3-6 are in two classrooms on our second floor. Each classroom has one lead and assistant guide. We offer a year-round program, with intermittent breaks for Spring Break and Winter Break.
Scholarship Fund of Alexandria Annual Gala & Auction
Do good while having a good time at the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria’s 38th Annual Gala and Auction at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center. The fun begins with a 2-hour open bar reception while mingling with 499 other Alexandrians who
