FEMA AWARDS OVER $1.5 MILLION TO MASSACHUSETTS FOR COVID-19 CALL
CENTER
[https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20230621/fema-awards-over-1-5-million-massachusetts-covid-19-call-center]


Release Date: 
June 20, 2023 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending more than $1.5
million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse it for the
cost of operating a public information hotline during the COVID-19
pandemic.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health will receive a total of
$1,548,332 in federal funding through FEMA’s Public Assistance grant
program to reimburse the cost of administering expanded call
capabilities for its “2-1-1” Call Center.

Between March 2020 and July 2021, the department contracted services
to expand cellular communications for its Call Center, which provided
real time COVID-19 information, resources, and referrals in multiple
languages.

With this expanded access to 24/7 information, Massachusetts residents
were able to receive critical information related to COVID-19
prevention, symptoms, treatment, testing, travel, and interpreter
services.

“FEMA is pleased to be able to assist the Massachusetts Department
of Public Health with these costs,” said FEMA Region 1 Regional
Administrator Lori Ehrlich. “Reimbursing state, county, and
municipal governments – as well as eligible non-profits and tribal
entities – for the costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic is an
important part of our nation’s ongoing recovery.”

FEMA’s Public Assistance program is an essential source of funding
for states and communities recovering from a federally declared
disaster or emergency.

So far, FEMA has provided more than $1.7 billion in Public Assistance
grants to Massachusetts to reimburse the commonwealth for
pandemic-related expenses.