CAIRO — Nearly $500,000 in federal aid to the City of Cairo has been delivered said City Manager Chris Addleton.

An advance amount of $147,000 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds was approved and delivered to the city on August 1, Addleton said at last week’s meeting of the Cairo City Council.

City officials received word last week that the remaining $343,312 that has been earmarked for them has also been delivered.

CARES Act funds are only to be used to pay for “necessary expenditures” incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to stay on track with annual budgets that may be impacted by the health emergency, according to the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) terms and conditions. Allocation of funds is based upon U.S. Census figures.

The funds are distributed through GeorgiaCARES, the grant management system administered by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget.

“That’s good news that we’re getting that whole allotment of Phase 1 CARES funding,” Addleton said.

“There are municipalities that have never even requested the first round of money,” said Mayor Howard Thrower. “So we’re anticipating a big chunk of money going back to the state, though hopefully there will be a second round.”

Thrower noted that there were doubts that some municipalities likely will be able to submit requests for the second round of funds in time for the September 1 deadline.