(MURFREESBORO)  COVID related victims in Rutherford County who have fallen behind in their rent and utility bills have great news from County Mayor Bill Ketron.

In a live talk show on WGNS, the county mayor indicated the target launch date for the assistance program is March 1, 2021.

Ketron noted, "Rutherford County has contracted with a company that is handling the distribution of the money for the entire state of Tennessee."

He noted, "It will help families get back on their feet from this pandemic. The checks will not be mailed to the individuals, but instead to the utilities and landlords."

County Mayor Ketron explained that to qualify a county has to have a population in excess of 200,000 persons, and that funds are coming directly from the U.S. Treasury,

He confirmed that Davidson, Shelby, Knox, Rutherford and Hamilton counties were the ones in Tennessee that qualified.

As more information is available, NewsRadio WGNS will keep you informed.