Orange County job retraining, food programs to get CARES Act millions

Orange County which set aside about $73 million in federal funds to help small businesses hurt by the coronavirus pandemic and $36.5 million for families struggling to pay rent unveiled a plan Tuesday for another $36 million in COVID-19 relief aid. The county will rely on social service agencies and non-profits to provide food, job training and programs that help people facing homelessness, mental health issues, addiction and child-care dilemmas because of the virus, blamed for more than 175 deaths here. “We recognize there are a lot of needs in our communities that have only grown worse because of the pandemic,” said Randy Singh, deputy county administrator of financial services, who outlined the spending plan Tuesday to Orange County commissioners.