Eagle County commissioners allocate $1.15 million in response to COVID-19 outbreak

The Eagle County Board of Commissioners has allocated $1.15 million to help the county and community respond to and recover from the COVID-19 outbreak.

The commissioners have earmarked $250,000 to fund community partners to help with their customized responses. Examples of partner organizations include the local chapters of the Salvation Army, Lift Up, and Eagle Valley Community Foundation, among others.

Up to $500,000 will fund the Emergency Operations Center and its priorities, which include slowing the spread of COVID-19 in Eagle County, ensuring medical system capacity and continuity, protecting those most vulnerable to severe illness, and promoting economic and social recovery. Funds will also help local healthcare providers acquire necessary medical equipment, including personal protective equipment. 

The funding also includes $400,000 for economic services to expand and enhance existing assistance programs. Eagle County Human Services will oversee the distribution of resources to residents who have been financially impacted by COVID-19 and are experiencing hardship. Examples of assistance include but are not limited to rent or mortgage payments, utility services, emergency food supply, household supplies, and transportation needs. The county requests that applicants do not seek aid for any expenses that are being addressed by other agencies. 

Any Eagle County resident who has been financially impacted by COVID-19 may apply for assistance by completing this form at eaglecounty.us/covid19help. Phone requests can not be taken, but those who would prefer to receive an application by mail may request one by calling 970-328-8888.

After submitting an application, individuals will be contacted for a brief interview to collect the information necessary to determine which resources may be available for each case. Staff will contact applicants as quickly as possible but anticipate a high volume of requests. They fully recognize the importance of access to immediate assistance and are requesting patience as they respond to demand.

Additionally, the county has prepared a resource guide for the general public and a business guide for employers and local businesses.

“This is a time of intense anxiety and uncertainty for people across the globe as this pandemic unfolds, but it’s also a time for hope and resiliency,” said Eagle County Commission Kathy Chandler-Henry. “We are all in this together. If you are hearing one message from your elected leaders here in Eagle County, it is this: We are here for you. Our staff is working around the clock with your interests front and center. We are so thankful to everyone in the community who has responded to our public health directives – it is absolutely essential that we continue to do so. And we’ve been deeply touched by how our community has come together to help each other. We hope this financial package offers some relief to those in need, and we’ll continue to innovate as we navigate this disaster one day at a time.”

The Eagle County Department of Human Services administers programs for cash, child care, food and medical assistance. Apply for these programs through colorado.gov/PEAK or the MyCOBenefits app.

For more information about COVID-19 in Eagle County, visit www.ECEmergency.org. The site includes regular updates related to COVID-19, as well as other emergencies that may impact our community. In addition, an Eagle County COVID-19 Monitoring dashboard has been set up to help share more real-time information publicly.