BOSTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending almost $13.5 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse it for the cost of providing testing at public schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The $13,450,826 Public Assistance grant will reimburse the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for contracting with Trans Med USA Inc. and Merrow Medical to provide test kits at schools between July 2022 and May 2023.

 

The department purchased and distributed 1,089,354 COVID-19 antigen tests to students, faculty and staff at schools statewide during that time period.

 

"FEMA is pleased to be able to assist Massachusetts with these costs," said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. "Reimbursing state, county, and municipal governments – as well as eligible non-profits and tribal entities – for the costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic is an important part of our nation's ongoing recovery."

 

FEMA's Public Assistance program is an essential source of funding for states and communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency.

 

So far, FEMA has provided nearly $2.8 billion in Public Assistance grants to Massachusetts to reimburse the commonwealth for pandemic-related expenses.