By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — On Thursday, Governor Kay Ivey (R-Ala.) awarded $35 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to establish the Alabama Health Care and Emergency Response Providers grant program. 

The grant program, which comes on a first-come-first-serve basis, will support healthcare and emergency service providers who have been financially impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. 

"The health crisis we continue to face has had significant impact on many fronts," said Governor Ivey. "I am proud to continue getting the CARES Act money into the hands of Alabamians who need it. The State of Alabama was awarded $1.9 billion in CARES Act money, and my team and I will continue working hard to get it directly to those individuals and groups who have been impacted." 

The following programs qualify: 

• Health Care Providers: primary care clinics, ambulance/EMS services, pharmacies, physician, physical therapy and dentist offices, outpatient care centers, medical and diagnostic laboratories, home health care, assisted living facilities

• Emergency Response Providers: rescue squad organizations, volunteer fire departments, 911 boards

For more information, visit governor.alabama.gov.