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LA County Hoping To Spend $10M On Restaurant Meal Program

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to try and find $10 million in coronavirus relief funds to back local restaurants in making meals for vulnerable communities.

Supervisor Hilda Solis recommended contracting with the nonprofit organization World Central Kitchen, which has provided more than 20 million meals statewide, to organize the effort.

"The recently announced restrictions on dining establishments are of great concern to Los Angeles County given that restaurants are the backbone of our economy," Solis said. "Although COVID-19 cases are increasing and safeguards are necessary, it is incumbent on government to provide support to the county's restaurant and agricultural industries and their employees."

Supervisor Sheila Kuehl co-authored the motion which suggests using unspent or future coronavirus relief funds to help pay for the plan.

"This is an idea that could really hit the spot!" Kuehl said. "If L.A. County has unspent federal CARES Act funding, this motion would permit us to support local restaurants, help county families feed their families, and take advantage of the experience of the celebrated nonprofit World Central Kitchen which has already worked with thousands of restaurants and provided millions of meals to people during crises."

Federal coronavirus relief funds granted to the county have already been allocated, but not necessarily spent. Funds from the first round of stimulus are required to be spent by Dec. 30.

Another round of funding is currently under consideration by Congress.

(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)

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