The county took the next step Monday in disbursing more than $4 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act money.

The Carlton County board of commissioners gave preliminary approval for a plan to disburse $4.356 million in CARES Act money to fund emergency needs of Carlton County government, communities, residents, businesses, and nonprofits adversely impacted by and responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Upon the recommendation of its CARES Act committee, the county board designated four different pots of money:

• $800,000 for small business assistance, to be use...