Douglas County Seeking Requests for ARPA Funding
Posted on 03/09/2022
Minden, Nev.- Based on direction from the Board of County Commissioners, (BOCC) Douglas County will be utilizing the remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding to replace lost revenue in order to provide government services. As part of the county’s development of a plan to spend these funds, the county is asking for funding requests to be considered by the BOCC. The County is particularly interested in hearing from public agencies and non-profit organizations within the county, but will gladly accept requests from anyone residing or providing government services in Douglas County.
Common examples of government services include, but are not limited to:
• Construction of roads and infrastructure
• Provision of public safety and other services
• General government administration, staff, and administrative facilities
• Health services
• Environmental remediation
• Provision of police, fire, and other public safety services (including the purchase of equipment and vehicles)
As part of gathering requests for the plan to be submitted to the BOCC, please submit your funding request using the template (click here) by March 25, 2022, to [email protected].
Requests should follow the following guidelines:
• One-time expenditure that does not create a new program or ongoing expenditures
• Expenditures should be items that are ineligible for other funding (i.e. infrastructure projects should be saved for future funding (i.e. infrastructure projects should be funded through Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act)
• Programs requests should not be duplicative of American Rescue Plan Act funding offered through the State of Nevada.
• All expenditures made by the County must still follow federal guidelines for procurement and are subject to the Single Audit Act.
Funds must be committed (contract in place) by December 31, 2024 and funds must be spent by December 31, 2026.
Background
The American Rescue Plan Act was approved by President Joseph Biden in 2021 to help turn the tide of on the pandemic, address its economic fallout and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable recovery. The total funding was approximately $1.9 trillion, with $350 billion to States and local governments. Of this amount, Douglas County was allocated $9.5 million as a direct recipient of federal funds. The final American Rescue Plan Act guidance was issued by the United States Treasury in January 2022, and included a provision that allows counties to use up to $10 million of ARPA funds as lost revenue for the provision of general government services up to the standard allowance amount. This modification allows for more flexibility and use for a broad range of services, programs and projects outside of typical eligible uses.
On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law, and established the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (“SLFRF”) program. Guidance can be found at: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/state-and-local-fiscal-recovery-funds.
-END-