FEMA Covers University’s COVID Testing With Nearly $6.6M

(TNS) - The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded the state nearly $6.6 million to reimburse the University of Massachusetts Amherst for the cost of testing students, faculty and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $6,593,575 Public Assistance grant will reimburse UMass Amherst for the cost of providing 263,743 tests between August 2020 and August 2021.

“FEMA is pleased to be able to assist UMass Amherst with these costs,” FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich said. “Providing resources for our partners on the front lines of the pandemic fight is critical to their success, and our success as a nation.”

FEMA has provided more than $1 billion in public assistance grants to Massachusetts to reimburse the pandemic-related expenses. FEMA’s Public Assistance program is considered an essential source of funding for states and communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency.

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