IOWA CITY

The Johnson County Direct Assistance Program, which benefits county residents affected financially by the COVID-19 pandemic, began this week.

The final step in the start-up of the program was taken at last week’s Board of Supervisors formal meeting, when the board approved a subrecipient agreement with Iowa City. The agreement boosts the Direct Assistance Program by $1.5 million.

The board previously designated $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to be used for the Direct Assistance Program. The City Council of Iowa City approved $1.5 million to also be used for the program.

Eligible Johnson County residents may receive one-time payments of $1,400, depending on how many residents apply for the benefit. If there are more eligible residents than the $3.5 million would cover, a random lottery system will be used to determine which people get the payments.

The application period, which began Monday, goes through May 23.

The rollout of the Direct Assistance Program follows months of discussion during Board of Supervisors meetings and multiple public-comment sessions, many of them involving non-English-speaking residents represented by the Iowa City Catholic Worker House who did not receive stimulus payments from the U.S. government.

“It’s been a long, tough road, but we’re here,” Supervisor Pat Heiden said at last week’s work session.

Donna Brook, Grants Coordinator, asked for the public’s “grace and patience” as payments are sent out in batches following the conclusion of the application period.

A series of application clinics will be held May 5, beginning at noon, at the Johnson County Health and Human Services Building, 855 S. Dubuque St.

For more information, go to: johnsoncountyiowa.gov/direct-assistance-program.

At its formal session April 21, the board set a public hearing to be held at 9 a.m. May 5 concerning the Johnson County Unified Development Ordinance and Johnson County Comprehensive Plan. The board also set a public hearing to be held at 5:30 p.m. May 12 on a number of rezoning and subdivision applications.

The board issued proclamations for Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 24-30, and Housing Trust Fund Week, April 22-28.

At its work session April 20, the board heard a report on climate adaptation and resiliency recommendations from Becky Soglin, Sustainability Coordinator. The recommendations came from a series of workshops attended by nearly 30 county workers, and are expected to be included in future board strategic planning and budgeting.

“This is a template that can be used for any type of project,” said Supervisor Lisa Green-Douglass.

The board will hold its next formal meeting at 9 a.m. April 28.