Michigan: State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks Wednesday announced two new grant programs that will provide an overall total of $300 million to help first responders receive premium hazard pay and reimburse local governments for payroll costs incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The First Responder Hazard Pay Premiums Program offers $100 million to fund additional compensation for first responders. Eligible first responders performed hazardous duty or work involving physical hardship related to COVID-19.

Cities,villages,townships,counties,public airport operators and certain ambulance operators can be reimbursed up to $1,000 per eligible employee,with no single applicant receiving more than $5 million. Applications from qualifying units of government will be funded on a first-come,first-served basis.

The Public Safety and Public Health Payroll Reimbursement Program makes available $200 million to reimburse cities,villages,townships and counties for eligible public safety and public health payroll expenditures incurred from April 2020 to July 2020.

Both grant programs use federal funding available to the state of Michigan through the Coronavirus Aid,Relief,and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act.