U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced today a breakdown of federal investments and assistance delivered to the Tampa Bay community:

• $2.9 billion in Covid19 grants to support small businesses and nonprofits, including $2.7 billion in Paycheck Protection small business loans, $74.6 million in Restaurant Revitalization Fund awards and $46.8 million in Shuttered Venue Operators Grant;
• A record $1.9 billion in federal grants secured for this Tampa/Hillsborough congressional district to create jobs, invest in education and infrastructure, and support the important work of local partners as Tampa Bay Builds Back Better;
• A record $3.4 million recovered for veterans, seniors, small businesses and families of this congressional district who were stuck in red tape before requesting assistance from U.S. Rep. Castor;
• Thanks to the American Rescue Plan and President Biden, Rep. Castor delivered ~$206M in tax cuts for most families with children (per the new expanded Child Tax Credit) which helped 86,000 Tampa area families at a time they needed it most with child care, groceries, diapers and school supplies.

“I am enormously proud of my Tampa constituent services team led by Tery Sanchez, my aide since 2002 when we joined forces to serve our neighbors on the Hillsborough County Commission. Team Castor worked tirelessly to cut through red tape and bureaucracy on behalf of families, veterans and neighbors across the Tampa area at a record level in 2021.

“The millions of dollars returned to our neighbors in our Tampa area District is a testament to the dedication and level of expertise with which Team Castor tackles complex cases on a daily basis to ensure that veterans receive the benefits they have earned and to guarantee that Social Security and Medicare are delivered on time to our older neighbors. Tampa families are facing unique and time-sensitive issues due to the coronavirus, and my team’s top priority remains serving our neighbors with respect and care.”

In FY2021, Florida’s 14^th Congressional district in Tampa and Hillsborough County saw 779 grant awards for a total of $1.9 billion.

“The $1.9 billion in federal grants serve as a lifeline for our hospitals, small businesses, schools, renters and more as they work through ongoing challenges of the Covid19 pandemic. Through American Rescue Plan federal grants, we have kept children learning safely, met the urgent needs of our Tampa health heroes, allocated funds to connect Tampa and make our roadways safer, and much more. I will continue championing our local partners to ensure that I continue to work to secure federal grants that ensure the health, wellbeing and economic success of our neighbors and greater Tampa Bay community.

“I am proud to continue delivering for our Tampa Bay community, especially as we build back from the pandemic era with President Biden signing the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law and House passage of the Build Back Better Act. Paired with the lifesaving American Rescue Plan, we are working to ensure a level playing field that provides opportunity for all of our neighbors.”

Among the $1.9B in federal grants that U.S. Rep. Castor delivered for Tampa Bay are an $18 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity (RAISE) grant for Tampa Heights, $1.7 million American Rescue Plan Capital Improvements Award for Tampa Family Health Centers, and a $6.1 million Head Start Emergency Supplemental grant for Lutheran Services Florida.

Thanks to federal Covid19 aid, Florida’s 14^th Congressional District received over $2.9B in grants for local businesses, including $2.7 billion in Paycheck Protection Program loans, $74.6 million in Restaurant Revitalization Fund Awards and $46.8 million in Shuttered Venue Operators Grants.

“These federal dollars have done exactly what we intended when crafting these aid packages in the Congress – they have helped our local businesses, the heart of our community, keep the lights on and employees paid over the past two years and will continue to aid them in bouncing back in the days ahead.

“I am also incredibly heartened to know that over $200 million in Child Tax Credit boosted the bank accounts of 86,000 Tampa area families thanks to the American Rescue Plan. These payments have been lifelines for families across our community, providing food, diapers, clothes and other essentials when they needed it most. In 2022, I will continue to work with our incredible local and federal partners to ensure that all of our neighbors have the tools they need to succeed.”

Residents and businesses in Florida Congressional District 14 can call U.S. Rep. Castor’s Tampa office at 813-871-2817 or visit www.castor.house.gov for assistance.