Gold rush: County unveils preliminary plan for COVID aid

This article was revised on May 11.

For over a year, much of economic activity in Jefferson County remained at a standstill as the global pandemic throttled tourism, emptied restaurants, and put an end to most events. Recently unprecedented numbers of residents lost work, and businesses were saddled with unanticipated new expenses.

Now, it’s payback time — and an opportunity for the county to make investments that could shape economic and human development for years to come.