FEMA has approved more than $59.6 million in additional Public Assistance funding for the
COVID-19 response in Colorado. The assistance was made available under a major disaster declaration issued March 28, 2020. FEMA has provided more than $1.6 billion in total assistance for Colorado’s COVID-19 response to date.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment received $59.6 million in FEMA funding to create and operate seven Community-Based Testing Sites to conduct statewide COVID-19 testing. An average of 456,183 tests per month were administered at the sites. This funding also was used for contracts for polymerase chain reaction and molecular diagnosis lab services to include supplies and equipment, transporting, and processing of tests.
For the COVID-19 response, FEMA has simplified the Public Assistance application and funding process to address the magnitude of this event and to allow state and local governments to receive eligible funding more quickly. These reimbursements play a critical role as state, tribal and local officials work tirelessly to assist their communities during this response.
Additional information about FEMA’s Public Assistance program can be found at www.fema.gov/assistance/public