Economy

St. Louis is expected to receive a half-billion dollars in the latest round of federal coronavirus relief funding this spring — the largest amount of any city or county in Missouri.

That’s at least twice the amount going to Kansas City and St. Louis County, the next-highest projected allocations. The federal government calculated funding to cities based on poverty rates, unemployment and housing quality, not population.

Updated March 4 with House giving final approval

The Missouri House overwhelmingly passed a measure on Thursday that would forgive federal unemployment overpayments for some residents.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced Monday he will release the remaining $280.7 million he withheld from general revenue spending at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Thanks to our balanced approach to COVID-19, Missouri is in a much better position than what was originally projected,” Parson said in a statement. “Our economy continues to come back strong, and we’re pleased to be able to release the remainder of these funds today.”