The EDA CARES Act was a non-competitive – invitation only program that was awarded to the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council (SWFRPC) for two years.  The SWFRPC will support activities that prevent, prepare for, and respond to the corona-virus (COVID-19) pandemic, or respond to economic injury as a result of corona-virus.  The SWFRPC has hired a Regional Disaster Economic Recovery Coordinator, Jim Burch to provide technical assistance and capacity building for communities, businesses, and other stakeholder in the Region impacted by COVID-19.  We will also provide outreach to Black-owned businesses and communities of color to determine the impacts of the corona-virus on this segment of business ownership.