The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released its official guidance on the economic recovery funding for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds: http://www.epa.gov/water/eparecovery/docs/2009-03-02_Final_ARRA_SRF_Guidance.pdf
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided $4 billion for the Clean Water SRF and $2 billion for the Drinking Water SRF. The law dictates that states must use at least 50 percent of the money for principal forgiveness, negative interest loans or grants (or any combination of these). Additionally, at least 20 percent of the money must be used for green infrastructure or water or energy efficiency projects.
Communities that are interested in receiving assistance for a project must contact their state SRF programs to be placed on the state's priority list for funding (
Water/Wastewater Infrastructure Project Funding via Indiana SRF). States have been collecting information on projects that are ready to proceed to construction, but many have reopened their priority lists in response to final passage of the law. Projects must be under contract for construction or construction must have commenced within 12 months of enactment, or by Feb. 17, 2010.
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EPA Brownfields Job Training Grants ($5 million) - To provide environmental job training projects that will facilitate job creation in the assessment, remediation, or preparation of brownfields sites for sustainable reuse. The closing date for receipt of applications is April 20, 2009.
Eligible governmental entities include a general purpose local unit of government; a land clearance authority or other quasi-governmental entity that operates under the supervision and control of, or as an agent of, a general purpose unit of government; a governmental entity created by a state legislature; a regional council or group of general purpose units of local government; a redevelopment agency that is chartered or otherwise sanctioned by a state.
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National Clean Diesel Campaign will issue grants and loans to help regional, state and local governments, tribal agencies, and non-profit organizations with projects that reduce diesel emissions. Eligible applicants include: U.S. regional, state, local, tribal or port agencies with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality; nonprofit organizations or institutions that represent or provide pollution reduction or educational services to persons or organizations that operate diesel fleets; entities whose principle purpose is the promotion of transportation or air quality.
National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program ($156 million) - Funding will be awarded on a competitive basis to support the implementation of verified and certified diesel emission reduction technologies. The closing date for receipt of applications is April 28, 2009. EPA regional offices are hosting a series of conference calls to answer questions - check the website below for dates and times.
Clean Diesel Emerging Technologies Program ($20 million) - To support projects that reduce diesel emissions and maximize job creation and preservation through the creation of national, state or local innovative financial program(s). The closing date for receipt of applications is May 5, 2009.
SmartWay Clean Diesel Finance Program ($30 million) - A competitive grant program that will support the creation of national, state or local innovative clean diesel financial programs. The closing date for receipt of applications is April 28, 2009.
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Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program ($1.5 billion) - to provide financial assistance and services to prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless and help those who are experiencing homelessness to be quickly re-housed and stabilized.
As required by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, HUD published the Notice for the Homelessness Prevention Fund on March 19. It is available at www.hud.gov/recovery/hrp-notice.pdf. The Notice changes the name of the program to the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP). It identifies eligible grantees and the requirements for receiving funding, eligible activities, eligible participants, reporting requirements, and other critical information for grantees and subgrantees.
In order to receive funding, grantees must submit a substantial amendment to their Consolidated Plan 2008 Action Plan for the HPRP. HUD has created a form that grantees must use for this substantial amendment. It is also posted on the HUD site (form number HUD-40119), along with the certifications grantees must sign.
In addition to the Notice and substantial amendment, the following resources will be available for grantees, subgrantees and other stakeholders:
1. March 20th: Q & A document for HPRP posted on HUD's Homeless Resource Exchange (HRE).
2. March 23rd: On-line "Virtual Help Desk" goes live, for questions about Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP)
3. March 25th: Sample community documents related to prevention and rapid re-housing posted to HUD HRE.
4. March 27th: On-line searchable database of Questions and Answers.
5. April 8th: HUD webcast dedicated to HPRP.
HUD encourages all interested parties to read the Notice completely and thoroughly and review the Q & A resources before asking questions about HPRP. All questions should be directed to the virtual help desk that is available on the HUD HRE.
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Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP)
U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan announced on Jan. 14 the award of $2 billion in competitive Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) grants under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA).
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HUD will award $2 billion in NSP grants to cities, states, and non-profit organizations. Unlike the previous round of NSP funds, all $2 billion in NSP funds available under the recovery act will be competitively awarded. Applications for NSP are due July 17, 2009. Links to the guidance and additional information appear below:
· Neighborhood Stabilization Grants Main Page
· NSP Fact Sheet and News Release
· NSP Application Guidance
In addition, HUD will award $50 million in "technical assistance grants" to NSP grantees to improve management of their NSP program. Applications for technical assistance grants are due June 8, 2009.
· NSP Technical Assistance Grants Fact Sheet
· NSP Technical Assistance Grants Application Guidance
Finally, HUD has created a new NSP Policy Guidance webpage for future and current NSP grantees to assist in planning for and managing NSP funds.
· NSP Policy Guidance Resources
Tax Credit Assistance Program (TCAP)
Funding under the Tax Credit Assistance Program is only available to State Housing Finance Agencies. Local governments are ineligible for TCAP funds. State Housing Finance Agencies will award TCAP funds to housing projects that are financed with Low-Income Housing Tax Credits.
· TCAP Main Page
· TCAP Guidance
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Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
HUD will allocate $1 billion in CDBG grants to nearly 1200 local governments and the states.
Although CDBG grants allocated under the Economic Recovery Act are very similar to regular CDBG grants, there are some specific differences identified in the guidance below. For instance, projects involving casinos, aquariums, zoos, golf courses, and swimming pools are prohibited. Also, local governments must prioritize projects that can award contracts within 120 days of the grant agreement.
CDBG entitlement cities must submit their CDBG applications in the form of a substantial amendment to their program year 2008 action plan to their HUD field office by June 5, 2009. State applications are due to the HUD field office by June 29.
HUD is also permitting cities that have not yet applied for Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing funds under the Economic Recovery Act to combine their applications for both the Homeless Prevention grant and the CDBG grant into a single substantial amendment. However, cities choosing to do this are required to send their combined application to their HUD field office by May 18.
· Community Development Block Grants Main Page
· CDBG Allocations by City and State (excel file)
· CDBG News Release
· CDBG Application Guidance
COBRA
Under the ARRA, employees who loose their jobs involuntarily between September 1, 2008 and December 21, 2009 and were enrolled in their employer's health plan at the time they lost their job will be required to pay only 35 percent of the cost of their COBRA coverage if they wish to participate in their former employer's health insurance plan for the first nine of 18 months for which they are COBRA eligible.
Employers, including cities and towns, will be required to pay the remaining 65 percent of the premium, but will be entitled to a credit for that payment on their quarterly payroll tax return.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on has issued a number of documents designed to assist employers, including cities and towns, with COBRA benefits for their involuntarily terminated employees. The IRS documents cover a range of issues and provide information to employers and employees alike and can be found at http://www.irs.gov/.
If you continue to have questions about implementing this benefit you should contact your local IRS office or your Department of Labor regional office. Department of Labor regional office contact information can be found at http://www.doleta.gov/regions/regoffices/.
Byrne JAG
the Office of Justice Programs has released the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) Formula Program solicitation. This solicitation is for $2 billion in state and local public safety funding made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Local governments eligible for funding can apply here: Local Solicitation.
If you are not sure if you are eligible to apply, visit: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/recoveryJAG/recoveryallocations.html
Important information for helping eligible local governments apply can be found here: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/recoveryJAG/recoveryjag.html
If you are not eligible for a direct grant from the federal government, you can still apply through your State Administering Agency (SAA). States are required under the grant to pass through a percentage to local governments. To find out who to contact, visit: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/saa/index.htm.
You may also contact the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute for more information. Please contact Travis Robinson at (317) 234-1653 or trobinson@cji.in.gov.
Examples of uses for the Byrne JAG Grant Program:
Byrne JAG can be used for many different public safety programs, such as maintaining multi-jurisdictional task forces which bring together investigators from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to fight gangs and drug trafficking. The funds can also be used for prevention activities, such as drug treatment, youth mentoring, and victim's assistance. The funding also can be used for law enforcement training and technology upgrades.
To read the White House Fact Sheet on Byrne funding and uses, click here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/FACT-SHEET-Investing-in-Public-Safety/
The president brought up the program in a speech recently. To read his remarks, click here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/06/AR2009030601346.html
DOL
Though not yet complete, the Dept. of Labor has a ARRA web page at:
http://www.dol.gov/recovery/The page includes a wide range of information that is important to local economic stimulus activities. Included is a link to "Implementing the Recovery Act" and planned links to "Information about DOL programs funded by the Recovery Act" and "DOL plans and reports."
The Department of Labor programs funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act represent a critical part of the effort to ensure that individuals and families are able to sustain themselves during periods of unemployment and to find new jobs. As we have reported, the Act would add $39 billion to the federal unemployment fund to ensure that unemployed individuals will be able to continue to receive their benefits; $4 billion to ensure that disadvantaged adults and youth and unemployed workers have access to job training and job match services (including $1.2 billion for 1 million summer jobs for youth); and $29 billion for COBRA so that monthly premiums for unemployed individuals may be reduced by 65 percent. The link "Implementing the Recovery Act" provides information on:
1. The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and how to use the nearly $4 billion in WIA stimulus funds for disadvantaged adult, youth and dislocated worker training programs;
2. Employment service grants to states;
2. Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits for unemployed workers;
4. Rules governing the suspension of income taxes on unemployment benefits; and
5. COBRA coverage continuation and expansion.
The information provided at the Department of Labor's web site will help your city and town ensure that individuals within your community have access to the most current unemployment insurance and COBRA information, and enable you to ensure that your local Workforce Investment Act programs are meeting your citizens' needs and the goals and objectives of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
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On Tuesday April 14, DOL's Employment and Training Administration announced that it had made a number of changes to Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) Number 14-08. The TEGL was originally released to help Workforce Investment Act workforce areas implement new and innovative job training and placement programs with the additional funds provided through the ARRA. Nothing about the overall thrust of the workforce program has changed. Instead, the changes to the TEGL were merely designed to clarify the period of time over which ARRA funding will be available; to address how funds will be recaptured and reallocated; to clarify the rules governing the transfer of funds between ARRA adult and dislocated worker programs; and to announce the availability of workforce system FAQs or frequently asked questions.
To obtain copies of this document please go to: http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2741, where you can obtain a PDF version of the revised TEGL.
Department of Justice
The Department of Justice has recently posted the remaining competitive discretionary grant program solicitations under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These grants are all now up on Bureau of Justice Assistance's website.
Here are the links to the competitive discretionary Recovery Act Solicitations for cities and towns:
· Recovery Act: Assistance to Rural Law Enforcement to Combat Crime and Drugs Program
· Recovery Act: Edward Byrne Memorial Competitive Grant Program
· Recovery Act: State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program: Combating Criminal Narcotics Activity Stemming from the Southern Border of the United States
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Guidance has been released for the Department of Justice's COPS Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP), which received $1 billion in the recovery act (HR 1).
Of particular interest to cities may be the NIH funding, which can be used to upgrade and improve research facilities and laboratories; senior nutrition program funding which can be used to support and expand center-based and home-delivered nutrition programs; community health center program funding, which can be used to expand and improve community health centers and hire more staff; and Health Information Technology funding which can help public and private medical facilities develop, upgrade and improve their information technology systems.
Not all of these programs are accepting proposals or distributing funds at this time. However, they will be in the next weeks and months as the rules and guidance are issued.
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On April 10, HHS announced that $1 billion in Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds that were made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act would be released. The funds may be used to reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities, and assist low-income families become self-sufficient. Eligible entities may use the funds to provide services and activities addressing employment, education, housing, nutrition, and emergency services to combat the central causes of poverty.
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On April 9, HHS announced $2 billion in ARRA funding for child care and disease prevention through the Child Care and Development Fund. These funds will allow states and localities to support child care services for working families. The funds can be spent on a broad range of programs including child care centers and home-based programs. $300 billion of the funds have been set aside to fund programs that will ensure that more underserved Americans receive the vaccines they need. Done in large part by funding the purchase of vaccines, the program will help ensure that individuals have access to vaccines even if they cannot afford them.
The Obama Administration has announced the availability of $4 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act loans and grants to help bring broadband service to un-served and underserved communities across America. This is the first round of Recovery Act funding aimed at expanding broadband access to help bridge the technological divide and create jobs building out Internet infrastructure.
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