A Carbon County official is hoping another round of COVID-19 relief grants will be able to happen to help businesses in need of financial assistance as a result of the pandemic.

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said Thursday that it appears the federal government is getting closer to another round of relief funds. These fund distributions have been the lifelines of businesses that have been forced to close because of restrictions.

“We are going to lose a lot of businesses if they don’t soon open up their doors and (government doesn’t) relax restrictions on them,” he said. “I have to agree in particular with the restaurants. They are taking a lot more precautions in protecting their diners. I know it’s difficult in big chain stores but I think the restaurants do a heck of a job.”

He said that if more funding isn’t approved by the federal government, counties like Carbon are going to lose many small businesses.

Carbon County, last week, announced the recipients for the second round of COVID-19 Relief Block Grants the county distributed. Carbon received a total of $5.79 million through the CARES Act and distributed approximately 82 percent of it to various businesses, nonprofits and other agencies through relief grants.