Coronavirus Relief Fund

As part of the federal CARES Act, the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CVRF) is distributed to local governments to cover necessary expenditures that were not accounted for due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. 

Five counties in Colorado with populations over 500,000 received direct distributions from the CARES Act, whereas the remaining 59 counties receive reimbursements from the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), the state administrator of this program.  DOLA is in the process of allocating up to $275 million to local governments across Colorado in an effort to reduce the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.  These funds must be expended by Dec. 30, per US Treasury guidelines. 

About the CARES Act


Extension Details (12/28/2020)

County & Municipality Resources

Association of Colorado County Administrators (ACCA) – County Spending of the Coronavirus Relief Fund

Alamosa County MOU with the City of Alamosa and the Town of Hooper

Arapahoe County CARES

Arapahoe County Intergovernmental Agreement with Centennial on CARES Act Distribution of Funds (May 26th)

Arapahoe County Public Meeting Agenda – Approval of CARES Intergovernmental Agreement – Consideration of a requst for approval of an IGA with the county’s 13 municipalities (Item 6b)

Bent County Business Support Grant Application

CARES Funding Allocation Plans in Westminster, Arvada & Aurora

County Small Business Programs with CARES Act

Fremont County Resolution Establishing a Small Business Grant Program

Jefferson County CARES Act Emergency Grant Funding

Jefferson County – Memo and Powerpoint on Intergovernmental Agreements (April 2020)

Intergovernmental Agreement between the County of El Paso and the City of Colorado Springs regarding the CARES Act Local Distribution

Logan County Small Business Grant Program Overview & Application

Morgan County Small Business Grant Program Overview & Application

Otero County CARES Act Coalition Distribution ideas

Otero County Resolution Appointing CARES Act Distribution Committee Representation

Otero County MOU between County and Munipalities on Distribution of Funds

Yuma County MOU on Grant Program Distribution of CARES Act Funds – September 15th

Yuma County COVID Small Business Relief Fund Grant – Program Overview and Final Application

State Resources

CVRF Substantially Dedicated vs. Substantially Different Use – Side-by-Side Comparison for Payroll Eligibility

DOLA Guidance on Capital Improvements – Temporary vs. Permanent

DOLA Rating Criteria for CVRF Reserve Set-aside

DOLA Local Government COVID-19 Financial Resources

Uploadable Notice to DOLA of Local Collaboration Conclusion – Template

DOLA Coronavirus Relief Fund (CVRF) Webpage – Grants Portal for Local Governments

CVRF Executive Summary of Local Government Distribution

CVRF Program Process Flowchart

Legal and Messaging Framework Q & A

Information for Local Governments (Colorado Office of State Planning and Budgeting)

Federal Resources

Read the CARES Act

U.S. Treasury Guidance for State, Local and Tribal Governments (Sept. 2nd)

U.S. Treasury Frequently Asked Questions (Oct. 19th)

U.S. Treasury Office of Inspector General – Prime Recipient Desk Review Procedures (Oct. 26th)

U.S. Treasury Office of Inspector General – CVRF FAQs – Reporting and Recordkeeping (Aug. 28th)

U.S. Treasury OIG – Coronavirus Relief Fund Reporting Requirements Update (July 31st)

U.S. Treasury OIG–Reporting Requirements (Nov. 25)

RESTART Act Summary

Census Data Used by DOLA to Allocate Funds County-by-County

The CARES Act Assistance for State, Local, and Tribal Governments

Eligible Units of Local Government

Census Data and Methodology – Eligibility of Local Governments

Coronavirus Relief Fund Guidance for State Territorial Local and Tribal Governments (April 22nd)

Payments to States and Units of Local Government

House Committee on Appropriations on Local Formula (May 4th)

How Will States and Localities Divide the Fiscal Relief in the Coronavirus Relief Fund? (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)

How Much Each State Will Receive From Coronavirus Relief Fund

Frequently Asked Questions (May 28th)

Frequently Asked Questions (May 4th)

U.S. Treasury Frequently Asked Questions (September 2nd)

U.S. Treasury Frequently Asked Questions (August 10th)

U.S. Treasury Frequently Asked Questions (July 8th)

U.S. Treasury Frequently Asked Questions (June 24th)

U.S. Treasury Frequently Asked Questions (May 28th)

U.S. Treasury Frequently Asked Questions (May 4th)

Other Resources

NACO – Tools to Navigate U.S. Treasury Guidance

NACO National Call Summary – Q & A with Treasury OIG (October 9th)

NACO Brief: Reporting Requirements – Payroll Expenses for Public Health, Public Safety, and Human Services Employees

NACO & Local Government Agency Letter to Deputy Inspector General on CARES Act Guidance (Sept. 10th)

Coronavirus Relief Fund Policy Graphic

Examples of Counties Using Treasury CRF Money for Small Business Assistance – NACo

State Plans to Share CARES Funding (June 17th) – NACo

County CRF Plans – Consultant Services (June 16th)

NACo Brief on U.S. Treasury Coronavirus Relief Fund Guidance (May 7th)

NACo – How Counties Are Investing CRF Payments, Annual Large County Expenditures, Share Your County’s CRF Plan