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This public information page was created to provide background information and updates on the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) Strategic Plan (PDF)

CARES Act and COVID Relief Fund 

The U.S. Federal Government signed into law the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act aimed at providing relief to individuals, businesses, and government organizations hit hard by the effects of COVID-19.  Established through the CARES Act, the $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) provides payments to Local, State, and Tribal governments navigating the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. The City of Phoenix received $293 million from the Coronavirus Relief Fund. The CARES Act provides that payments from the CRF may only be used to cover costs that: 

  • ​​​are expenditures incurred due to the COVID-19 public health emergency; 

  • were not accounted for in the current budget; 

  • were incurred between March 1, 2020, and Dec. 30, 2020.

Per federal guidance, funds may not be used for city revenue replacement. ​ However, per the guidance and FAQs authored by the United States Treasury and the State of Arizona it is clear that we can charge existing public safety payroll costs to the Coronavirus Relief Fund. The guidance states "...for this reason and as a matter of administrative convenience in light of the emergency nature of this program, a State, territorial, or Tribal government may presume that payroll costs for public safety employees are payments for services substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency...".

​On May 5, 2020, t​he Phoenix City Council approved the strategic plan that allocates $150 million of $293 million in available Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding received by the city of Phoenix. On July 1, 2020, City Council approved using the $143 million CRF Reserve to offset Public Safety salaries in order to preserve important community programs in other areas.  On Oct. 13, 2020, ​the City Council approved reprogramming $15 million in CRF funds to address additional community needs. On Nov. 4, 2020, the City Council approved an additional $444,000 for community needs. On Dec. 8 City Council made final adjustements to CRF funds. Finally, on Dec. 17 City Council allocated the final uncommitteed $8.9 million in funds to additional Community Investment programs. 

Also on this page, you can watch videos from City Council Policy Meetings or find information about Help Available. You can also review Downloads and Resources.


Phoenix’s Strategic Plan 

Community Investment ​Programs  $90.5 million​​*

Business and Employee Assistance​ - $16,700,000*

Provided economic relief and assistance for economic disruption effects on small businesses​, airport small businesses, microenterprises​ and artists.

  • Small Business Assistance 

  • Small Business Guidance 

  • Restaurant Restart Resiliency Grant ​​

  • Airport Small Business Concessionaire Grant​ 

  • Microenterprise Resiliency Program 

  • Arts & Culture Coronavirus Relief Program

Utility & Rent/Mortgage Assistance - $29,500,000*

Provided residential City utility and rent/mortgage assistance and​ business City utility bill assistance.

  • Three months of City services, natural gas, and electric utility assistance and three months of rent/mortgage assistance for individuals affected by the COVID-19 economic disruption

  • Three months of City water and sewer assistance for businesses affected by the COVID-19 economic disruption​​

  • Project Assist program offered financial support for residents with delinquent City Services bills during the COVID-19 pandemic.​

    • ​​This program was approved at the Dec. 8, 2020, City Council Policy Session

Distance Learning and Wi-Fi Access - $3,200,000*

Enabled public housing facilities to be updated with broader wi-fi access for students to participate in distance learning from schools.

  • Bridging the Digital Divide 

  • WiFi and Tablets for Public Housing

  • WiFi at Additional Recreation Centers 

  • Access Points and Antennas at 52 Public Facilities  

Mitigation and Care for Vulnerable Populations - $20,800,000*

Provides resources to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on the City's most vulnerable populations.​ Mitigation and care programs were increased by $11,500,000 at the Oct. 13, 2020, City Council Policy Session. 

  • Refugee and Asylee Microenterprise Assistance 

  • Refugee and Asylee Residential Utility and Rent/Mortgage Assistance  

  • Refugee and Asylee Non-Profit COVID Relief Grants  

  • Domestic Violence Services

  • Human Trafficking Resources 

  • Community Legal Services/Landlord Tenant  

  • Heat Relief

  • Seniors  

  • U.S. Vets Housing  

  • Job Training 

Food Delivery - $6,900,000*

Provides food assistance through food delivery systems to serve healthy foods to impacted populations. Food delivery programs were increased by $1,000,000 at the Oct. 13, 2020, City Council Policy Session and $444,000 at the ​Nov. 4, 2020, City Council Formal Meeting. 

  • St. Mary's Food Bank

  • St. Vincent de Paul ​

  • Salvation Army  

  • City of Phoenix 

  • Other Community Needs 

Better Health Outcomes and Community Testing - $13,500,000* 

​Better Health Outcomes and Community Testing programs were increased by $2,050,000 at the Oct. 13, 2020, City Council Policy Session. 

  • ​​​Community COVID-19 Testing Events

  • Surgical Masks for the Community

  • PPE and Other COVID-Related Supplies for Schools

  • Healthcare Connectors  

  • COVID-19 Hope Fund for Employees 

  • Animal Wellness

    • This program was approved at the Oct. 13, 2020, Policy Session. 

​City Operations Expenses - $59.2 million*

Employee COVID-19 Testing - $6,000,000*

  • Live virus testing for full and part-time employees

  • Antibody testing for full and part-time employees

PPE purchases/COVID-19 cleaning costs - $19,000,000

  • PPE for employees and customers

  • City facilities

  • Public Transit

  • Extra Street cleanups

  • COVID-19 jail costs or central ​booking facility expenses

Medical and Public Safety Measures for COVID - $5,000,000*

  • Emergency Medical Transport

  • Police / Fire response and enforcement of COVID-19 orders or illness

  • Parks & Recreation enforcement of park closures/restrictions

Payroll Expense Reimbursement/Management Oversight for COVID - $4,200,000

  • COVID-19 Leave for employees

  • Police / Fire, Emergency Management

  • Human Services, Parks & Recreation, etc.

  • Management/accounting/equity oversight

Telework/E-government Solutions for COVID - $17,000,000*

  • Telework expenses

  • Enhanced E-government capabilities (311 Center, video court, teleconferencing, virtual public meetings, etc.)

  • 911 Telemedicine development

Public Facility Retrofit for COVID - $8,000,000*

  • Employee workspace and Public facility retrofit ​

  • Public Transit retrofit

Public Safety Salary Offset - $143.6 million*

Public Safety Salary Offset

While not reflected in the $143.6 million total above, the City Council authorized staff to use the public safety salary offset provision to ensure that approximately $38,800,000 in previously approved Community Services and City Operations programs could continue after the CRF deadline by freeing up general funds. These programs included: 

  • ​Project Assist 

  • Bridging the Digital Divide 

  • Wi-Fi at City Facilities ​

  • ​U.S. Vets Housing 

  • Refugee and Asylee Microenterprise 

  • Food Assistance 

  • Community COVID-19 Testing 

  • Employee COVID-19 Testing 

  • Medical/Public Safety Measures 

  • Facility Retrofit Projects 

  • Telework E-Government Solutions ​


​​​*Includes direct CRF spending and funding made available in the general fund by using the CRF public safety salary offset. 

​​​

Downloads and Resources​

Contact Us

• Call us at (602) 262-3111
• Email contactus@phoenix.gov​ ​​​​​

Note when you submit an email it falls under the city's policy which states that the email message is: (1) subject to public disclosure under the Public Records Law, (2) is not private or confidential and (3) is retained for 90 days. ​​