YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County commissioners last week allocated another $200,000 of federal CARES Act funding to Valley Economic Development Partners of Liberty to reallocate to Mahoning County small businesses.

The funds are intended to help businesses weather the economic storms caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Valley Partners, formerly known as the Mahoning Valley Economic Development Corp., still had some grant applications when it used up its earlier CARES Act funds, said Audrey Tillis, Mahoning County administrator.

If Valley Partners distributes the last $200,000, it will have provided Mahoning County businesses with $3,450,000 altogether.

Valley Partners’ first allocation was $750,000 and went to 66 companies, with most of the distributions being $10,000 — the largest amount a business can get.

Another 56 companies received a the next distribution — $500,000 — of CARES Act funds. The money does not have to be paid back.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act is best known as the funding Congress approved in March that resulted in $1,200 stimulus checks being issued to millions of Americans to help them weather the coronavirus pandemic.

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