On March 11, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). ARPA is an ambitious initiative to stimulate the American economy, support residents, and curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. As we navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic and rebuild our local economy, ARPA will provide some much-needed relief to American families and businesses, including those right here in Wyandotte County.
The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas will receive $87.5 million in federal aid over two years with $55.4 million allocated to the City of Kansas City, KS and $32.1 million for Wyandotte County. Half of the funding is already available and the remainder will be available in May 2022.
Notice of Funding Availability: ARPA Funding for Non-Profit Organizations
We have launched a funding opportunity for nonprofits and Unified Government departments to support our pandemic recovery.
Learn more here.
To help us track our progress throughout this process of planning for our recovery, we've outlined a few resources for you here:
How the Money Can Be Spent (Eligible Funding Categories)
ARPA specifically defines how the funding can be used and the Unified Government also has restrictions on where the money can be spent (city versus county operations). Generally, the categories include initiatives that will either:
- Improve public health and community resilience
- Address disparities of disproportionately impacted communities
- Diminish family violence and substance abuse
- Create more stable, affordable housing and prevent evictions
- Invest in workforce development
- Augment broadband/Internet access in underserved areas
- Invest in critical wastewater and stormwater infrastructure
- Assist small businesses impacted by the pandemic
With this in mind, the Unified Government is eager to identify projects and initiatives that address our community's most immediate needs while investing in sustainable solutions with long-term benefits.
Here are the categories in greater detail:
| ARPA Categories |
Eligible Uses |
| Public Health |
- Vaccination, testing, contact tracing
- Prevention in congregate settings
- Facilities repairs to respond to COVID
- Communication, enforcement, isolation, quarantine
- Payroll costs of public sector responding to COVID
- Mental health and substance abuse
- Other public health services
|
| Negatively Impacted Communities and Industries |
|
| Disproportionately Impacted Communities |
- Education assistance
- Healthy childhood environments
- Housing support
- Social determinants of health
- Community violence interventions
|
| Premium Pay for Employees Fighting COVID |
| Infrastructure |
- Wastewater
- Stormwater
- Broadband
|
Read US Treasury Guidance on Eligible Uses(PDF, 436KB)
How the Money is Being Spent (Allocation Tracking)
The Unified Government of Wyandotte County received a total allocation of $87.5M local recovery funds to be distributed between the City of Kansas City, KS and Wyandotte County.
ARPA Allocation As Of December 21, 2021
Glossary of Terms
Revenue Loss
The Revenue Loss Replacement is calculated based on the impact on the Unified Government's 2020 budget. These dollars are set aside to cover loss and provide the greatest flexibility of use. Currently, there is a project remaining balance of $9.6M in the City of Kansas City, KS general fund from the revenue replacement.
Immediate Needs
Funding for ongoing pandemic response as presented and approved by the Unified Government Board of Commissioners in August 2021.
Additional Needs
These are funds proposed for ongoing county public health in 2022.
Unallocated Funds
Not yet directed per fund guidelines but need to be allocated by 2024.
Funding Our Immediate Needs (August 2021)
On August 26, 2021, the Unified Government Board of Commissioners approved the use of ARPA funds to address Immediate Needs to support our ongoing pandemic response and community aid. This included $1.85M in support for housing to address the needs of our community. Select the image to view the report.
Watch the presentation and discussion here
Additional COVID Response Needs (January 2022)
On Monday, January 24, 2022, the Administration and Human Services Standing Committee heard an update and request for American Rescue Plan funds to support our ongoing pandemic response and community health. The full Commission will consider this request on Thursday, January 27, 2022. In the meantime, check out this video where the Public Health Department provides a thorough update on how the proposed allocation would go to work in our community:
Progress to Date (Reporting on How the Money is Working)
Immediate Needs
- Pandemic Response: With the ARPA funds approved on August 26, 2021, the Unified Government has continued its ongoing pandemic response, offering free vaccines, testing, booster shots, contact tracing, and supportive services to the community.
- Housing Assistance: In October 2021, we partnered with the United Way of Greater Kansas City to provide $1.85M in direct housing assistance to those in need across our community through 11 different local agencies. Services offered include rental and mortgage assistance, utility assistance, and temporary housing.
- Small Businesses: For small businesses, the Small Business Resiliency Grant was launched on December 17, 2021 to provide up to $10,000 in technical assistance and support.
- Vaccine Incentive: For Unified Government staff, a program was created to encourage staff vaccination certification for public health and continuity of our operations. With an incentive of $400 paid to staff who certified their vaccination by November 30, 2021 and with an additional $100 to be paid for staff who receive their booster shot, the Unified Government has 73.6% of its staff certify their vaccination (as of December 21, 2021). The program will wrap-up in 2022 with final certification of booster shots and any remaining dollars for this program will return to the general ARPA funds.
MORE UPDATES COMING SOON!
Past Presentations, Reports, and Other Information
LINK TO VIDEOS
Watch our various meetings on ARPA
Presentations
- Strategy Development
- Measures of Success, March 10, 2022(PDF, 1MB)
- Nonprofit Application Process, January 18, 2022(PDF, 255KB)
- Strategy Development and Next Steps, December 14, 2022(PDF, 632KB)
- Vision, Values and Goals and Immediate Needs Update, December 6, 2021(PDF, 522KB)
- ARPA Funding Opportunities
- Streetlights and Electrical Upgrades, February 22, 2022(PDF, 395KB)
- Buildings and Logistics, February 8, 2022(PDF, 1MB)
- Wastewater and Stormwater, February 2, 2022(PDF, 2MB)
- Parks and Recreation, February 1, 2022(PDF, 2MB)
- Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, Prioritization Session, July 15, 2021(PDF, 703KB)
- State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Revenue Loss Presentation, July 1, 2021(PDF, 324KB)
- Federal American Rescue Plan Act Presentation, May 6, 2021(PDF, 828KB)
Reports
Other Information
Other Recovery Grant Opportunities
Through a facilitated strategic planning process, the Unified Government Board of Commissioners have begun to outline the core values, vision and goal for our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic as a community. Our Commission priorities serve as the overall "North Stars" guiding our recovery but the values, vision and goals outlined herein are specific to how we will approach this ongoing global health crisis with preparing for a new "normal" in a post-pandemic world.
Values
Equitable
We support a more equitable and inclusive future to ensure our community is an affordable, safe, and sustainable place to live for generations to come.
COLLABORATIVE
We invite collaboration and partnership with our community in addressing our greatest challenges by working transparently and focusing on our greatest needs and direct staff to do the same.
INNOVATIVE
We embrace bold, creative solutions to proactively and quickly transform the way that we work to support our community in its recovery from the pandemic.
RESILIENT
We prepare for the future and understand how our investment impacts social, public health, economic, and environmental outcomes in our neighborhoods.
Vision
Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS is a community that enjoys a high quality of life. Our diverse residents are healthy, safe, and share in the benefits of our growth as a community. We fully understand our infrastructure needs and quickly address problems. We support more diverse, quality housing in our neighborhoods, small business growth, and equitable economic development. The Unified Government and its partners work together to build on the success of our past while preparing us for an uncertain future. Together we develop bold, systemic solutions with multiple benefits, leveraging our investments efficiently and effectively.
Through our recovery from the pandemic, Wyandotte County/KCK will be ready for the future as we grow our community and address critical neighborhood needs.
Goals
The Unified Government Board of Commissioners have developed these three focus areas of goals for our pandemic recovery: Community Health and Well-Being; Infrastructure and Built Environment; and Organizational and Community Resilience. Keep reading for more details on our goals:
Community Health and Well-Being
- Address the needs of our community, particularly our most vulnerable, in response to the ongoing pandemic and in anticipation of cold weather, by working with our community partners and neighborhoods to immediately direct aid and coordinated support where it is
needed most.
- Establish a comprehensive response to address the needs of the unhoused with local and regional partners, building on our respective strengths through collaboration.
- Fully implement the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) to strengthen our overall health and well-being as a community.
Infrastructure and Built Environment
Understand current and future infrastructure needs to guide the equitable prioritization of investments, maintenance, and right-sizing.- Develop a comprehensive plan to mitigate the impacts of the aging infrastructure and rising costs for our community by the end of 2023.
- Enhance availability and access to neighborhood amenities and infrastructure that support vibrant, healthy, and walkable neighborhoods.
- Adopt a comprehensive strategy to develop sustainable, affordable, and diverse housing options to catalyze neighborhood regeneration and additional private investment, eliminating friction and barriers to redevelopment as applicable.
- Balance new development by uplifting the existing community and identify equitable approaches to improving quality of life in disadvantaged communities.
Organizational and Community Resilience
Prepare our organization, workforce, and community for future disasters and disruptions.- Foster and enhance our capacity for response at the neighborhood-level to maximize impact on social, economic, and environmental outcomes.
- Build trust and accountability with our community through rapid, intentional, and inclusive reinvestment.
- Establish fiscal sustainability for our operations as an organization.
The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas (UG) American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Subcommittee has voted to create a Grant Program to fund various projects across the county to improve community resilience.
Apply Today
The deadline has been extended to Friday, June 24, 2022 for interested parties!
WyCo-Non-Profit-Application-English.pdf(PDF, 506KB)
WyCo-Non-Profit-Application-Spanish.pdf(PDF, 340KB)
The grant program will be open to all Wyandotte County non-profit organizations and UG departments. This funding can be used for various projects; however, the Committee wants to make sure that organizational projects submitted and selected are for the betterment of Wyandotte County’s citizens and communities, not solely for the benefit of the individual organization requesting the funds.
Watch our recent grant information session.
We hosted a preliminary information session on Wednesday, April 13. We will continue to collect your frequently asked questions and provide the answers on our website. Check it out.
When is the application due?
Applicants must submit a completed application and all associated documents, as described in this Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), by May 27, 2022 Friday, June 24, 2022.
What are eligible expenses?
-
Awardee staff salaries, benefits, and supplies that are directly associated with implementing the proposed Program;
-
Enhancement, installation, and fortification of digital infrastructure to respond to increased needs due to the COVID19 public health emergency;
-
Technical and life skills training, including support services to assist unemployed and/or underemployed workers’ increased needs due to the COVID19 public health emergency;
-
Creation or expansion of childcare services with special considerations to enable compliance with COVID-19 public health precautions;
-
Emergency Assistance initiatives;
-
Food security, including delivery to residents, senior citizens, and other vulnerable populations to enable compliance with COVID-19 public health precautions;
-
Mental health, human services, and similar employees whose services are substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID19 public health emergency;
-
Other measures to respond to or mitigate the impact of COVID-19.
What documentation is required?
- Incorporation Documentation (e.g. 501(c)(3))
- 2020 Tax Return
- Form W-9
- Organizational Capacity Documentation
- Proposed Budget and Narrative Documentation
- Past Performance Success Documentation
- Matching Funds Documentation
Where do I go with more questions?
Here are some links to some of the references and resources we have been tracking as part of the American Rescue Plan Act efforts.
Results for America American Rescue Plan Dashboard covers an analysis of 150 publicly available American Rescue Plan Performance Reports, submitted August 31, 2021 to the federal government.
National League of Cities ARPA Tracker is a much broader resource but can be filtered by the American Rescue Plan Act (Policy Area), making it easier to scan the 560 plans and proposals from communities across the United States.