Online portal designed to assist Orange County residents with COVID-19 relief closes after receiving 50,000 applicants, reopens Wednesday

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County residents looking for COVID-19 relief will have to wait another day following the closing of an online assistance program.

Applications for the Individual and Family Assistance Program opened around 8 a.m. Tuesday and closed just before 10 a.m. after the county tweeted it received 50,000 applications.

The program is designed to grant people who have either lost their job or been furloughed up to $1,000 though the CARES Act.

Read: Orange County online applications for COVID-19 relief closes after receiving 50,000 applications, will reopen Wednesday

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings took the application process and changed it.

“Quite frankly, I wasn’t so pleased with how that roll-out occurred, he said. “What I wanted us to do was not to look at it from what makes it easy for us, but what makes it easier for the citizens.”

Instead of doing a rolling schedule on Wednesdays and Saturdays through the end of the year, Demings told his staff to accept up to 20,000 applications today to alleviate stress for as many people as possible.

Read: Give Kids the World to remain closed, will lay off majority of staff, CEO says

The county will process 1,000 applications a week through the end of the year or until the money runs out.

“If I know that I’ve submitted my paperwork, there is hope for me, because we have told them in advance what the guidelines are to qualify for,” Demings said.

County officials said it didn’t shut down the application portal on Tuesday until it had 50,000 people in the portal.

The county will announce online when the portal opens again.

The portal closed for applicants almost immediately after opening at 8 a.m. Monday.

Read: Next stimulus: What is a payroll tax cut and how much money would it mean to you?

Businesses that qualify can use the money to make up for lost revenue, but it does come with some strings attached. Qualifying businesses must have fewer than 25 employees, including the owner in some cases.

Businesses with unpaid liens or evidence of financial mismanagement will not qualify.

This process is different from the small business grants application, which is still open.

Residents or business owners looking for assistance can find more information here.

© 2020 Cox Media Group