TAMPA, Fla. — There's a little bit of relief in sight for Hillsborough County residents and businesses hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

The county commission voted to approve how it will spend $257 million received from the federal government.

The funds from the Cares Act grant are heading to wide-ranging assistance programs, including those to feed, educate and help families pay for utilities, rent and mortgages.

Metropolitan Ministries, Feeding Tampa Bay and Career Source Tampa Bay are just some of the programs which will see big chunks of money that will help them for months to come.

One of the most popular programs targets those who are out of work and will send $15 million to a fund to support monthly expenses for many people who have lost jobs.

Also, $50 to $85 million in direct payments will head to businesses which have taken on big losses and need the money to stay afloat.

Grants to get people back to work will see $15 to $35 million in relief.

And as the local economy slowly comes back to life, the county will pay $15 to $35 million in safe-at-work mitigation grants.  

Specifically, those are operational safety changes to government and community facilities.

County commissioners still need to approve specific amounts that will be paid out.

It will be happening in the days and weeks ahead as the county looks to spur economic development and increase safety as restrictions are slowly lifted.