Ossoff pushes for relief for state’s smaller communities

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., is urging Senate passage of direct relief for Georgia’s small- and medium-sized cities, towns and counties, following discussions with local leaders who reported that prior COVID-19 relief legislation had neglected smaller localities.

Local governments across Georgia face dire budget shortfalls, undermining public safety and public health during the pandemic.

Since taking office on Jan. 20, Ossoff has spoken with dozens of mayors and local leaders about their communities’ most urgent needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mayors consistently urged him to fight for budgetary support for localities, whose provision of public services like public safety, fire, and public health is at risk during the crisis.

Responding to those local concerns, Ossoff is urging inclusion in the upcoming COVID-19 relief bill of the “Direct Support for Communities Act” legislation he has co-sponsored, which would deliver direct federal assistance to smaller cities, towns, villages and counties.

“As I’ve spoken with mayors and local leaders across Georgia, it’s clear that Georgia’s smaller cities, counties, towns, and rural communities have not received the federal support they need and deserve,” Ossoff said. “I am fighting for funding to sustain local services and save jobs across Georgia, and will keep communities updated of progress as I fight for inclusion of funding for local communities in upcoming COVID relief legislation.”

Local leaders across the state are voicing their support for Ossoff’s efforts in Washington.

“Cuthbert and so many of Georgia’s small rural towns have been hit the hardest by this pandemic, yet we have been left to fend for ourselves without critical funding necessary to sustain our local governments,” Cuthbert Mayor Steve Whatley said. “This bill would deliver life-saving support to communities like ours across the state, and I thank Senator Ossoff for fighting for us.”

“Cities, towns and villages have been the backbone of the American economy long before the ongoing health and economic crisis,” Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said. “I’ve been calling on Congress for months to provide more direct economic relief to Savannah and all of Georgia’s cities and towns — especially the smaller ones who did not receive CARES Act funding. Senator Ossoff has listened to our concerns, and I’m glad he’s working to deliver Savannah and all of Georgia’s cities and towns the critical relief we need.”