Ask now for local slice of $5.7M virus aid

The Ellis County committee handing out $5.74 million in federal COVID-19 aid to Ellis County wants applications now. Anyone getting the aid, which is being passed down to the county through the state of Kansas, must spend it before Dec. 30. Any money not spent goes back to the state. Local applications for reimbursement of COVID-19 expenses, or for direct aid for COVID-19, are due by noon Monday, Aug. 3. “I really hope we get a lot of applications,” said J.D. Cox, Ellis County administrator, who assembled and leads the committee. “It just worries me that we would have money that would be left on the table and goes back to the state.”