HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinal Coronavirus Relief Fund Advisory Council Report
Governor Bullock
Coronavirus Relief Fund Advisory Council
Recommendation Report
May 2020
2
Dear Governor Bullock,
Congress recently passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The
CARES Act established a Coronavirus Relief Fund of $150 billion for states, tribes and in certain
circumstances, local governments dealing with the impacts of COVID-19. Montana has received
$1.25 billion of this federal allocation from the U.S. Treasury Department.
On April 15th, you announced the Coronavirus Relief Advisory Council comprised of a diverse,
geographically dispersed group of unselfish Montanans who committed to work together to provide
guidance and process for the $1.25 billion. On the afternoon of the announcement, every person on
the Advisory Council attended a virtual meeting to begin a process that gathered ideas while awaiting
further guidance from the federal government. You would be proud of the effort, commitment, and
robust dialogue that started across Montana shortly after that call. Despite the communication
challenges presented by COVID-19, virtual meetings and individual efforts began in earnest to
compile ideas.
In a little over two weeks from start to finish, we present to you this repo rt of our recommendations
attempting to reach our goal to provide advice and guidance as to how best to deploy Montana’s
CARES Act funds to reinvigorate Montana’s path toward economic recovery and revive our
communities. While not every comment is reflected in this report, we can assure you everyone was
heard in a collaborative process supported by detailed proposals submitted by committee members.
We are all honored that you trusted us to work hard, despite unique business and personal
challenges with COVID-19. The unwavering support and effort from your staff (particularly Tom Livers,
Amy Sassano, Ryan Evans, Adam Schafer, and Ken Fichtler) was critical. Our collective urgency was
not defined by the CARES Act, but by a genuine desire from everyone on th e committee to return to
the strong, robust economy that Montana experienced prior to this unprecedented pandemic. We
feel it is essential to deploy funds quickly and effectively to citizens of Montana.
Thank you for the opportunity. We stand ready to be steady, conscientious, and representative
advisors on how best to assist Montanans now, as well as throughout the next phases of Montana’s
response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sincerely
Larry Simkins, Chair
Governor’s Coronavirus Relief Fund Advisory Council
3
Coronavirus Relief Fund Advisory Council
Advisory Members and Business/Organization
Larry Simkins The Washington Companies
Charlie Beaton The Big Dipper Ice Cream
Scott Brown The Base Camp
Eric Bryson MT Association of Counties
Tim Burton MT League of Cities and Towns
Nick Checota Logjam Presents
Randy Chesler Glacier Bancorp
Bill Coffee Stockman Bank
Colin Davis Chico Hot Springs
Shalon Hastings Fly FisHer Adventures, Small Business
Jacquie Helt Service Employees Int’l Union (SEIU)
Mike Hope Bar and Restaurant Owner (Rockin R)
Llew Jones State Representative, Small Business Owner
Casey Lozar Federal Reserve Bank
Jim Markel Red Oxx Manufacturing
Janice Mattson Mattson Farms
Liz Moore MT Nonprofit Association
Jim Peterson Rancher, former Senate President
Kevin Riley 1st Interstate Bank
Mark Semmens D.A. Davidson (Retired)
Jon Sesso State Senator, Small Business Owner
Jason Smith Montana Indian Affairs Office
Sarah Walsh PayneWest Insurance
Joe Willauer Butte Local Development Corporation
Staff Resources
Adam Schafer Tom Livers
Deputy Chief of Staff Budget Director
Governor’s Office Office of Budget and Program Planning
444-3111 444-3616
aschafer@mt.gov tlivers@mt.gov
Amy Sassano Ryan Evans
Deputy Budget Director Assistant Budget Director
Office of Budget and Program Planning Office of Budget and Program Planning
444-0619 444-3163
asassano@mt.gov ryanevans@mt.gov
Ken Fichtler
Chief Business Development Officer
444-5470
Ken.Fichtler@mt.gov
4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION I - COMMITTEE PROCESS……….5
SECTION II – CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND GUIDANCE FROM U.S. TREASURY……….5
SECTION III - GUIDING PRINCIPLES……….6
SECTION IV – METHODS OF FUND DISTRIBUTION……….7
SECTION V – PROPOSED FLOW AND ALLOCATION OF FUNDING……….8
SECTION VI – ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE……….9
- IMMEDIATE SAFETY NET……….9
- BUSINESS STABLIZATION.…….10
- TOURISM, HOSPITALITY, AND ENTERTAINMENT JUMPSTART.…….12
SECTION VII – OVERARCHING THEMES AND OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS……….13
SECTION VIII – OTHER FEEDBACK……….15
SECTION IX – CLOSING THOUGHTS AND REMARKS……….16
SECTION X - APPENDIX……….17
5
SECTION I – COMMITTEE PROCESS
On April 15th, Governor Steve Bullock appointed the Coronavirus Relief Advisory Council. The Council
is comprised of a diverse and geographically dispersed group of Montanans committed to work
together to provide guidance for the $1.25 billion allocated to the State of Montana through the
CARES Act. A collective process has been at the forefront to ensure the best recommendations and
guidance to help Montana families and businesses. Since inception of the Council, virtual meetings
were held twice a week with each meeting including an update from Governor’s staff on issues
pertinent to the Council, followed by discussion and idea-sharing among the Council members.
Despite the communication challenges presented by COVID-19, the virtual meetings were a success
and individual and coordinated group efforts began to compile ideas. A Council email box and a
Microsoft Teams site were established for Council members to ask questions and share ideas, and
to allow for transparency and integrity in the overall process. Over the last two weeks, ideas have
been submitted around the clock, which speaks volumes to the dedication of the Council, and their
overall attentiveness to the urgent situation at hand brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
SECTION II – CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND GUIDANCE FROM U.S. TREASURY
During the first half of the Advisory Council’s process, we eagerly awaited guidance from the U.S.
Department of Treasury as a basis to help inform our decision making, and ultimately our
recommendations. On April 23, the U.S. Treasury supplied supplemental guidance on use of the
Coronavirus Relief Fund. Although the guidance still leaves many important questions yet to be
answered, the supplemental guidance did provide enough information for the Council to continue its
work and to formulate formal recommendations. Below is a selection of the guidance that is most
applicable to our recommendations, grouped by topics of guidance that is now known, and the
guidance that remains unclear or not included in the recent supplemental:
Known Guidance
• If a government has not used funds it has received to cover costs incurred by December 30,
2020, as required by statute, those funds must be returned to the Department of the Treasury.
• Expenditures must be used for actions taken to respond to the COVID-19 public health
emergency. These may include expenditures incurred to allow state, territorial, local, or tribal
governments to respond directly to the emergency, such as by addressing medical or public
health needs, as well as expenditures incurred to respond to second-order effects of the
emergency, such as by providing economic support to those suffering from employment or
business interruptions due to COVID-19-related business closures. Further, the CARES Act
also requires that payments be used only to cover costs that were not accounted for in the
budget most recently approved as of March 27, 2020.
6
• Eligible expenses include COVID-19 related expenditures for specific items including, but not
limited to: medical expenses; public health expenses; payroll expenses for public safety,
public health, health care, human services, and similar employees whose services are
substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency;
expenses to facilitate compliance with COVID-19 related public health measures; and
expenses associated with the provision of economic support such as grants to businesses
experiencing impacts from business interruption or closure.
• Coronavirus Relief Funds may not be used to fill shortfalls in government revenue or be used
to replace lost revenue, to duplicate reimbursement of expenses already reimbursed by the
federal government, or workforce bonuses other than hazard pay or overtime.
Guidance Not Available or Known
• Guidance on financial reporting, specifically sub-recipient grant reporting, is currently
unknown, though various channels of professional organizations anticipate guidance on
recipient and sub-recipient reporting is forthcoming.
• Guidance on using Coronavirus Relief Funds to match other federal funds such as FEMA is
unknown.
• Guidance on the terms by which the State has the ability to loan funds directly to entities, or
guidance on the State’s ability to pass through funds to other entities for them to loan funds,
is unknown.
SECTION III – GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Although important and necessary for strategic and practical purposes, there is great humility in
attempting to define a single set of overarching guiding principles in a time of such intense need
caused by a worldwide pandemic. No set of principles can encompass all situations or circumstances
for each individual, business, or organization, particularly with limited resources that must be spent
in accordance with the limited guidance contained within the CARES Act. Even so, guiding principles
were developed to help frame the discussion and facilitate the work of the Council in an attempt to
efficiently and effectively identify the best ways to address the needs of those most directly and
severely impacted by the effects of COVID-19. The Council’s Guiding Principles follow:
Guiding Principles
• Focus on those impacted most.
• Stay focused on strategies and funding not already allocated elsewhere, ensuring there is no
duplication of efforts or funds.
7
• Deploy funds quickly, while preparing for the long-term challenges and acknowledge all needs
might not be apparent now or readily known, particularly for businesses that may need to
remain closed for longer periods into the future.
• Prioritize leveraging of funds when possible, encourage utilizing and leveraging existing
programmatic infrastructure that is underutilized, consider existing distribution channels for
allocation of funds, and consider public/private partnerships when appropriate. In other
words, do not recreate the wheel.
• Focus on assistance that can be used now and that is not built into any future base allocation
for state or local budgeting purposes.
• Consider how targeted investments now in COVID-19 impacted areas may impact the overall
health and well-being of Montanans moving forward, and how investments now may impact
the future economic strength and diversity of the State of Montana and its residents.
• Keep it simple, as the complexity of the initial federal relief injection into Montana left many
worthy recipients without assistance for a variety of reasons.
SECTION IV – METHODS OF FUND DISTRIBUTION
As was stated in the Guiding Principles above, the Council recommends the Governor prioritize
leveraging of funds, encourage utilizing existing programmatic infrastructure that is underutilized,
consider existing distribution channels for allocation of funds, and consider employing public/private
partnerships for the distribution of funds. The Council views this guiding principle as the means to
most efficiently deploy funds to those most impacted by COVID -19 and recommends the Governor
consider not only existing state programs as conduits for funding allocation, but also partners beyond
state government. In this, the following entities should be considered as channels for delivering
funding to COVID-19 impacted individuals and entities:
• Regional or Local Economic Development Organizations
• Regional or Local Banking, Financial, and Lending Institutions
• The Montana Board of Investments (BOI); and/or the Montana BOI in partnership with
Regional or Local Banking, Financial, and Lending Institutions
• Existing and/or Refocused State of Montana Programs
8
SECTION V – PROPOSED FLOW AND ALLOCATION OF FUNDING
The Council established three primary silos of funding: State, Local and Tribal Government; Economic
Assistance; and Unforeseen Impacts.
In an effort to align with the expertise on the Council, and to effectively identify the best way to
establish an immediate safety net for individuals, businesses and nonprofits, the Council focused
our time and efforts on Economic Assistance.
The Council has compiled recommendations particular to Economic Assistance for the Governor in
the following sections of this report, with specific emphasis on sub-areas focusing on:
• Immediate Safety Net
• Business Stabilization
• Tourism, Hospitality and Entertainment Jumpstart
Perhaps noticeably and notably absent from our specific sub-area recommendations are concepts
pertaining explicitly to the State, Local, and Tribal Government silo shown in the flow chart above.
This in no way should be construed as the Advisory Council not recognizing a pressing and apparent
need for assistance for entities, individuals, and services largely or wholly dependent on funds from
9
state, local or tribal government, such as K-12, the Montana University System (MUS), Corrections
and Law Enforcement, and the Courts. Rather the Council chose to dedicate our collective time to
fleshing out ideas and recommendations most apparent in the Economic Assistance silo. And while
in no way would we recommend that any single eligible individual or entity und er the over-arching
umbrella of government, K-12, MUS, and others be specifically precluded from obtaining assistance
under the Economic Assistance silo, if appropriate, we do contend that the Governor, in consultation
with local and tribal governments, is better positioned to address funding and reimbursement needs
of the almost 200 city/town, county, and tribal governments across Montana throughout the duration
of the emergency.
With these caveats in mind, the following sections include the distillation of our comments, ideas and
considerations into formal recommendations pertinent to each sub area for your consideration.
SECTION VI – ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE
In the following sections, we outline the recommendations pertinent to each Economic Assistance
sub area.
IMMEDIATE SAFETY NET
The Council’s Immediate Safety Net Recommendations are intended to deploy funds immediately
(i.e. over the coming days and weeks) to those that are negatively impacted as a result of COVID-19,
with particular attention to people, businesses, nonprofits and other entities that have fallen through
the cracks with limited or no access to existing programs or to funding contained in the CARES Act.
IMMEDIATE SAFETY NET FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Food Security
o Provide Enhanced Support for Individual Food
Security through Food Banks and Food Pantries
– The 167 food banks and pantries across the
state report since the beginning of the COVID-19
pandemic impacts in Montana, demand for food
is up 10 - 20% in rural Montana, and up 100 –
200% in some larger Montana communities.
Considering food is a basic and immediate need,
the Council recommends direct grant assistance
to food banks and food pantries serving
Montana communities. Further, the Council
recommends the Governor consider ways to
10
facilitate the provision of food from local producers to food banks, particularly if there is
risk of food being left to waste.
2. Providers of Social Safety Net Services
o Provide Enhanced Support for Providers of Immediate Social Safety Net Services –
Acknowledging the term “social safety net service” is expansive, the Council recommends
prioritized direct grant assistance to entities directly impacted by COVID-19, or directly
assisting or caring for those impacted by COVID-19. Such entities include but are not
limited to: emergency shelters; behavioral health and substance abuse providers;
homeless shelters; direct care workers; child care providers; disability services; emergency
services; urban Indian health centers; child protection; domestic violence; first
responders; senior services; and economic and workforce development.
3. Individuals, Business, and Nonprofits
o Provide Rental and Mortgage Assistance to Individuals, Businesses, and Nonprofits –
Assisting Montanans and their businesses to remain economically viable and afford to
remain in their current home or business location is a priority identified by the Council as
an immediate need. Therefore, the Council recommends direct grant assistance be
deployed to individuals, businesses and nonprofits for assistance to pay monthly rent or
mortgage payments, or to assist an individual with paying the costs of their property taxes
if a recipient is an owner of property.
BUSINESS STABLIZATION
The Council’s Business Stabilization Recommendations are intended
to deploy funds over an immediate to mid-term (i.e. the coming weeks
and months) time frame, with particular attention to businesses and
nonprofits (ranging from sole-proprietors and independent
contractors to larger Montana businesses) that are negatively
impacted as a result of COVID-19, have been or currently are subject
to closure, and may have fallen through the cracks with limited or no
access to existing programs or to funding contained in the CARES Act.
BUSINESS STABLIZATION FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Direct Support
o Support for Montana Businesses – The Council anticipates
current and lingering financial difficulties for many, varied-
sized Montana businesses. The Council recommends direct grant assistance be provided
to Montana businesses, with priority given to businesses that are or have been subject to
statewide closure, and/or have been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligible uses of assistance could include general inventory, personnel costs, and operating
11
costs associated with utilities, supplies, property and other taxes, and fees. When
applicable, in addition to traditional and/or refocused State of Montana programmatic
funding channels, the Council recommends the Governor consider additional funding
channels and fund delivery methods through local and regional economic development
organizations, banks, and the Montana Board of Investments. Further, the Council
recommends funding be allocated in an amount that provides the greatest benefit for the
most in need.
o Support for Montana Nonprofits – Likewise, the Council anticipates current and lingering
financial difficulties for many, varied-sized Montana nonprofits. The Council recommends
direct grant assistance be provided to Montana nonprofits, with priority given to nonprofits
that are or have been subject to statewide closure, have been negatively impacted by the
COVID-19 pandemic, and whose mission is to serve a population impacted directly or
indirectly by COVID-19. Eligible uses of assistance could include general administrative
costs, personnel costs, operating costs associated with utilities, supplies, property and
other taxes, and fees. When applicable, in addition to traditional and/or refocused State
of Montana programmatic funding channels, the Council recommends the Governor
consider additional funding channels and fund delivery methods through local and
regional economic development organizations, banks, and the Montana Board of
Investments. Further, the Council recommends funding be allocated in an amount that
provides the greatest benefit for the most in need.
2. Sustainability
o Assistance to Businesses and Nonprofits through Forgivable Loans, Low/Zero Interest
Loans, or State of Montana backed Lines of Credit Guaranty – Acknowledging that the
sizable allocation to Montana under the CARES act is finite with substantial demands on
it, that some businesses and nonprofits may need more than a one-time infusion of
immediate assistance, and that some entities may require larger sums of assistance over
a longer period of time that could willingly be paid back, the Council recommends funding
be allocated to assist businesses that may have mid-to-long-term (e.g. in the coming
months and years) sustainability needs based on the likelihood that they may be closed
for the foreseeable future, or are linked to an industry that may be not as quick to recover.
When applicable, in addition to traditional and/or
refocused State of Montana programmatic funding
channels, the Council recommends the Governor
consider additional funding channels and fund
delivery methods through the Montana Board of
Investments and/or local and regional banks and
lending institutions to administer lending programs
to assist those Montana businesses with unique
situations. This recommendation anticipates that
12
funding will be necessary to address particularly unique situations that some businesses
and nonprofits may endure that are not explicitly addressed in any previous or forthcoming
recommendation. The Council acknowledges that further federal guidance pertaining to
this recommendation is pending and will be necessary to help guide how this
recommendation is ultimately implemented.
TOURISM, HOSPITALITY AND ENTERTAINMENT JUMPSTART
The Council’s Tourism, Hospitality, and Entertainment Jumpstart recommendations are intended to
deploy funds over an immediate to mid-term (i.e. coming weeks and months) time frame,
acknowledging that funds should be deployed to best align with the time when the business types
contained in the tourism, hospitality, and entertainment industry can safely reopen to Montana
consumers and in-state/out-of-state tourists. Particular attention is given to businesses and
nonprofits (ranging from sole-proprietors to larger Montana businesses and nonprofits) that are most
impacted as a result of COVID-19, have been or currently are subject to closure, and may have fallen
through the cracks with limited or no access to existing programs or to funding contained in th e
CARES Act.
TOURISM, HOSPITALITY AND ENTERTAINMENT JUMPSTART FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Direct Immediate-to-Mid Term Assistance
o Support for Montana Businesses and Nonprofits – As stated
before, the Council anticipates current and lingering financial
difficulties for many, varied-sized Montana businesses and
nonprofits, particularly those in the tourism, hospitality, and
entertainment industry who face an uncertain time of when they can
safely reopen. The Council recommends direct assistance be
provided to Montana tourism, hospitality, and entertainment
businesses and nonprofits through grants and loans, with priority
given to businesses that are subject to continued closure, have businesses focused on
accommodating in-state and out-of-state tourists, and have been (and will continue to be)
most negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Revenue tests from 2019 to 2020
and possibly utilizing North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes as a
starting point for identifying industries may help quantify targeted assistance. For
instance, providing grants for lodging tax or live entertainment gate and concession
shortfalls would provide a measurable mechanism for support. Specific uses of funds
could include sustaining reduced payrolls, distressed inventory from refunded ticket or
event sales, costs associated with evolving health guideline compliance, or other costs
associated with sustaining operations through mandatory closures, up to and through the
reopening phase. Further, the Council recommends funding be allocated in an amount
13
that provides the greatest benefit, for the most in need, over the longest period of time, in
an effort to sustain those businesses with opening dates not yet known.
2. Longer Term Sustainability
o Assistance to Businesses and Nonprofits through Forgivable
Loans, Low/Zero Interest Loans, or State of Montana backed Lines
of Credit Guaranty – Acknowledging that the sizable allocation to
Montana under the CARES act is finite with substantial demands on
it, that some businesses and nonprofits - particularly in the
performing arts, live entertainment, and other business/nonprofits
dependent on large crowds and tourists - may need more than a
one-time infusion of immediate assistance, and that some entities
may require larger sums of assistance over a longer period of time
that could willingly be paid back, the Council recommends funding
be allocated to assist businesses that may have mid-to-long term
(e.g. in the coming months and years) sustainability needs based on the likelihood that
they may be closed for the foreseeable future, or are linked to an industry that may be less
quick to recover. Assistance could take the form of restructuring assistance, term
extensions and interest rate buydowns. When applicable, in addition to traditional and/or
refocused State of Montana programmatic funding channels, the Council recommends the
Governor consider additional funding channels and fund delivery methods through the
Montana Board of Investments and/or local and regional banks and lending institutions
to administer lending programs to assist those Montana businesses with unique
situations. This recommendation anticipates that funding will be necessary to address
atypical situations that some businesses and nonprofits may endure that are not explicitly
addressed in any previous or forthcoming recommendation. The Council acknowledges
that further federal guidance pertaining to this recommendation is pending and will be
necessary to help guide how this recommendation is ultimately implemented.
SECTION VII – OVERARCHING THEMES AND OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS
During the Council’s work, there were several themes that transcended any particular sub-area of
need for assistance. That is to say that some assistance is and will be applicable to any individual,
business, nonprofit, or other entity that has been negatively impacted as a result of COVID-19,
whether that be through immediate safety net efforts, business stabilization efforts, or the jumpstart
phase of Montana’s COVID-19 response. Specific themes and recommendations that are
overarching in nature include:
1. Facilitate Coordinated Testing, Tracing, Distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
and Strike Team Efforts – This would allow coordinated, statewide processes and information
pertaining to testing and tracing efforts as we all learn more about the prevalence, occurrence
and incidence of COVID-19 across Montana and our nation as a whole. Moreover, this would
14
allow funding to help support the provision of protective supplies to entities that can then
furnish services in ways that will keep Montana among the safest states in the nation. This
would also provide for State coordinated strike team efforts and funds to address local or
regional flare-ups of COVID-19.
2. Facilitate Statewide Guidance and Coordination with Local Public Health Departments – This
will allow businesses and nonprofits to safely open and operate under a single-set of guidance
that is easily understandable and practical to implement. This will also help make consumers
feel that it is safe to return to a particular business. Further, coordinated efforts on statewide
guidance could, in part, be disseminated via Montana print and online newspapers. This
would provide assistance to an industry whose sales and advertising budgets have been
impacted by a decline in overall business activity attributable to COVID-19.
3. Provide for Ease of Access to Funding and Simple, Straight-Forward Reporting Requirements
– This would allow impacted individuals and entities with little experience seeking government
funding to access funds quickly and efficiently, and to have straight-forward, predictable and
pre-prescribed expectations for if/how they will be expected to report on how they used
particular assistance granted or loaned to them or their business.
4. Facilitate State of Montana Guidance and Resources that are Clear and Concise for
Coronavirus Outreach to Individuals, Businesses, and Potential Financial Partners – This
would allow for individuals and entities to reach out to one, single, coordinated source of
information and guidance on topics varying from sanitation guidance to financial assistance
available from state and federal government. Further, this would provide potential financial
partners charged with distributing funds through grants or loans, when applicable, with
greater clarity and guidance on who should qualify to receive economic relief in an effort to
ensure that funds are not deployed to many with little or no meaningful impact from COVID-
19.
5. Provide for Equity, Prioritization, and Accountability of Funds – This allows for distribution of
funds in transparent ways to entities that need it most, regardless of their administrative
resources to apply for funds, geographical location, size of business, economic stature, or
other standing or influence.
6. Provide for a Dedicated Holdback of Coronavirus Relief Funds for Unforeseen/Unknown
Impacts and Provide a Backstop of Coronavirus Relief Funds as Supplemental Funds to
Augment Recommended Funding that May End Up Being Insufficient – This would allow the
Governor to respond to issues as they arise that might currently be unforeseen or unknown,
and to potentially augment funding for any of the Council’s recommendations that are of
particular benefit. Further, this would provide a backstop for the provision of existing
15
government services in future years under the new economic uncertainty brought on by
COVID-19.
7. Consider Continued State and Local Flexibility, When Possible, Towards State and Local
Levied Taxes, Fees and Assessments – This allows state and local governments the ability to
gauge in real-time the relationship between their residents’ immediate needs versus their
immediate ability to pay.
SECTION VIII – OTHER FEEDBACK
Over the past two weeks, the Council has received significant feedback from professional
organizations and coalitions, businesses, nonprofits and individuals. The formal written feedback
received by these groups is included in Section X as an appendix of your hardcopy report for your
reference as you begin the task of operationalizing the Council’s recommendations.
Additionally, parallel to our Council process, your staff set up a public comment portal where
individuals could submit ideas for use of the Coronavirus Relief Fund. As of this report, more than
1,400 public comments have been received. At each Council meeting, we were given an update on
the status and content of public responses through the public portal. Based on the public feedback
received, it is heartening to see that the public ideas most frequently submitted are very much in
alignment with our recommendations contained in this report. For your reference, the following graph
illustrates the types of ideas submitted through the public portal comment process.
16
SECTION IX – CLOSING THOUGHTS AND REMARKS
In no way could one report of recommendations comprehensively and satisfactorily address the
many, varied needs created by COVID-19 across our great state. That said, we hope the
recommendations provided in this report give you guidance on how best to deploy Coronavirus Relief
Funds to those who need it most, when they need it most. Further, we appreciate the opportunity to
provide recommendations on behalf of the Montana business and nonprofit community – large to
small, east to west, urban to rural, and everywhere and everyone in between. We stand ready to be
steady, conscientious, and representative advisors on how best to assist Montanans now, as well as
throughout the next phases of Montana’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
17
SECTION X - APPENDIX