Jackson County, Missouri

Recovery Plan 

State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds

2021 Report as of August 31, 2021

Executive Summary 

Jackson County, Missouri is a large diverse county located in west central Missouri. It is the second most

populous county in the state of Missouri with just over 717,000 residents (2020 US Census). Jackson 

County received $122.6 million in federal CARES Act funding in 2020 to address the COVID-19 

pandemic. Those dollars were broadly allocated in a funding allocation of 1/3 of the funds to the 

incorporated cities within Jackson County to address concerns and needs of those communities caused 

by the pandemic. Another 1/3 of the funds were used by Jackson County to shore up the public safety 

health net by directly supporting our public hospitals and federal qualified health centers. The final 1/3 

of funds were used to support the area school districts as well as the public health needs and operating 

and public safety needs of Jackson County. Jackson County continues to experience the full public 

health and economic impact from COVID-19 and plans to use American Recovery Funds to help mitigate 

that ongoing impact. 

▪ As of August 25, 2021, the Kansas City Region reported 193,842 total cases, an increase from

179,575 total cases reported on August 6, 2021. On the same day, the Kansas City Region

reported 2,608 total deaths from COVID-19, an increase from 2,457 total deaths from COVID-19

reported on August 6, 2021.

▪ As of August 25, 2021, Eastern Jackson County reported 34,923 total cases and 431 total deaths

from COVID-19, up from 31,892 total cases and 388 deaths from COVID-19 on August 6, 2021.

▪ In Eastern Jackson County, the 7-day case rate per 100,000 persons was 306.06 per 100,000 on

August 25, 2021. This remains three-times higher than the upper threshold of “High”

classification defined by the CDC.

▪ Of the total population in Eastern Jackson County, 42.6% of residents have completed their

vaccination series as of August 25, 2021, an increase of 2.1% over August 6, 2021.

▪ On August 25, 2021, the Jackson County Health Department received report of six hospitals in

Jackson County reporting under 5% capacity to accept new patients.

Jackson County proposes to use the $136,551,645 in American Recovery Program funds provided by the 

Federal government for the following purposes: 

$28.5 million to support ongoing public health response and recovery needs. 

$88 million for revenue replacement. 

$20 million to mitigate negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency.

Total of $136.5 million. 
Expenditure Category: Public Health $28.5 million

Jackson County has incurred significant costs associated with responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

It is anticipated that these costs will continue for a significant period of time. An estimated $28.5

million of American Recovery Program funds will be used by Jackson County to continue our COVID-19 

testing and vaccination efforts as well as providing capital improvements to county Health 

Department facilities. 

• Approximately $16.5 million will be used by Jackson County to continue our expanded

operations of the Jackson County Health Department. This will employ supplemental

staff to continue our daily testing, contact tracing, and vaccination efforts for Jackson

County residents. This funding will support these expanded operations through the end

of 2023.

• Approximately $5 million will be used by Jackson County to equip and improve a new

Jackson County Health Department to provide adequate office, laboratory, testing and

vaccination space for pandemic response.

• Approximately $2 million will be used by Jackson County to continue to provide

equipment such as PPE as well as ongoing COVID-19 testing for county associates.

• Approximately $5 million will be used by Jackson County to perform health outreach to

disadvantaged communities who are seeing lower than average vaccination

participation and higher than average rates of COVID-19 infections. Funding for this

effort will allow this outreach to continue into mid-2023.

Expenditure Category: Revenue Replacement $88 million 

Jackson County incurred approximately $22 million loss in general revenue from 2019 to 2020. That 

revenue loss is projected to continue through at least 2024. Jackson County proposes to use $88 million 

of its American Recovery Program Funds for revenue replacement. These funds will be used to ensure 

continuity of operations for all county programs at pre-pandemic levels. This will also ensure that all 

collective bargaining agreements for all county associates are honored throughout the period to 

maximize staff retention and minimize any service disruption that occurs due to employee attrition. 
• Child Care. Grants will cover eligible expenses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, with the

goal of helping early child care professionals stay in business and making child care more

affordable for families.

• Behavioral/Mental Health. The grants will allow Jackson County to provide comprehensive

community mental health services and address needs and gaps in existing treatment services

for those with severe mental health conditions.

Expenditure Category: Mitigate Negative Economic Impact of COVID-19 in the Community $20 million 

Jackson County will continue to solicit proposals to address needs that arise throughout our 

communities. Funding will be directed to support needs in our most disadvantaged communities and 

small business. It is these same disadvantaged communities and small businesses that are suffering the 

most negative impact from the effects of COVID-19. The County will also continue aid to not-for-profit 

and educational organizations throughout the county and who are best positioned to support the longterm needs of Jackson County residents. Additional areas of support will also include the following: