The City of Portland Expects to Receive About $100 Million From Federal COVID-19 Relief Bill

The city of Portland expects to receive about $100 million in federal disaster relief from the $2 trillion COVID-19 bailout bill President Donald Trump signed into law today.

Elizabeth Edwards, the city's government relations director, gave that news to the city's Disaster Policy Council today.

Edwards tells WW that much about the disaster relief aid remains uncertain, including exactly how much the city will get (it could be more or less than $100 million) and how the money must be spent.

"Right now we are operating off back-of-the-napkin calculations," Edwards says.   "I am awaiting more information from staff on the specifics."

The direct aid to Portland and other jurisdictions across the state and the country is separate from the financial relief that individuals and businesses in Portland and elsewhere will receive through enhanced unemployment benefits, federal loans, direct payments and other parts of the package.

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee and one of the lead negotiators of the $2 trillion bill, estimates Oregonians will get about $3.3 billion from various aspects of it.