WATERTOWN, S.D. (KXLG) — The South Dakota Legislative Appropriations committee is encouraging South Dakota businesses to cross the T’s and dot the I’s when it comes to their applications for Federal COVID dollars.

The committee met in Pierre earlier and among topics discussed was the disbursement those dollars. Among the members is Representative Hugh Bartels of Watertown who says efforts are moving forward to help local businesses take advantage of those dollars, but that minor errors by the applicants are causing some glitches.

He says applications are still being accepted and that an additional $160 million could still be appropriated before the end of the year.

Bartels says the dollars can be used for anything deemed necessary by a business from purchasing equipment to providing back pay to employees. The dollars are considered a grant, although subject to an audit. Applications are confidential unless you receive a grant, wherein the name of the business is then published.

The Federal COVID dollars are expected to start arriving around Dec. 1 with most the dollars appropriated and sent out by Dec. 10. More information is available at COVID.SD.GOV. Applicants should click on the small business grant link.