BLUE EARTH — Faribault County commissioners have begun allocating some of the $1.65 million the county received through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.

The commissioners on Tuesday approved a resolution that allocates $600,000 to the Faribault County Economic Development Authority to administer the Business Relief Grant Program and Non-profit Relief Program. Another $5,000 went to the county EDA to implement a broadband internet grant to Bevcomm, Inc.

The final allocation made during the meeting was to Faribault and Martin County Human Services in the amount of $205,000 to be used for qualified expenditures incurred between March 1 and Dec. 1 of this year.

The resolution passed on a 3-2 vote, with commissioners Tom Loveall and Tom Warmka in opposition.

Warmka expressed concern as to whether there will be enough money to aid businesses.

“At the end of the day, the government entities are going to be here,” he said. “My concern is also for the businesses in our county which may not survive this pandemic.”

Loveall questioned how the money to the EDA is to be divided, specifically the $198,000 earmarked for non-profit businesses.

“I would like to know which non-profits qualify for the grants,” he said. “They may have other sources to obtain funding.”

The resolution also directed the county auditor/treasurer/coordinator to draft a letter of support from the Faribault County Board of Commissioners for the Bevcomm internet project within the borders of Faribault County.

“The money for the Bevcomm grant is a no-brainer,” Loveall noted. “By supporting their grant initiative, they have a much better chance to be awarded a much bigger grant, which would help them improve the Internet access in the county.”