IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION implementing an allocation methodology for the eventual distribution of approximately $70.4 million in remaining Jackson County American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds by the end of 2024.
Intro
RESOLUTION NO. 21764, October 14, 2024
INTRODUCED BY DaRon McGee and Sean Smith, County Legislators
Body
WHEREAS, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021, enacted by the U.S. Congress, provided for payments to local governments navigating the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds; and,
WHEREAS, ARPA requires that these federal funds may be used only to cover expenses to respond to the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) or its negative impacts, including assistance to households, small businesses, and nonprofits, or aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality; to respond to workers performing essential work during the COVID-19 public health emergency providing premium pay to eligible workers of the State, territory, or Tribal/local government that are performing such essential work, or by providing grants to eligible employers that have eligible workers who perform essential work; for the provision of government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue of such State, territory, or Tribal/local government due to COVID-19 public health emergency relative to revenues collected in the most recent full fiscal year of the State, territory, or Tribal/local government prior to the emergency; and to make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure; and incurred during the period from March 3, 2021 through December 31, 2026; and,
WHEREAS, Jackson County’s total allocation of ARPA funds was $136,551,645.00 with approximately $70,400,000 remaining; and,
WHEREAS, ARPA funds must be obligated by December 31, 2024 and spent by December 31, 2026; and,
WHEREAS, the ARPA funds are to be allocated for Community Investment, County Facility Capital Improvements, Public Health Department and Programming, and Long-Term County Facility Planning and Investments; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, Community Investment will receive $21,500,000.00 and will be allocated as follows:
1) The Senior Home Repairs Program will receive $2,000,000.00 to provide financial assistance for home repairs and improvements to senior homeowners, prioritizing the use of small businesses and Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE);
2) The Veteran Home Repairs Program will receive $1,000,000.00 to provide financial assistance for home repairs and improvements to veterans;
3) The Utility Assistance Program will receive $2,500,000.00 to establish a utility assistance program to help residents cover essential utility cost such as electricity, water, and heating;
4) The Food Insecurity Program will receive $2,000,000.00 to fund initiatives to increase access to nutritious food, including food banks, meal delivery services, and community gardens;
5) Mental health programs will receive $3,000,000.00 to ensure all residents have access to mental health resources;
6) Art Revitalization in Jackson County will receive $1,000,000.00 to bolster the arts in Jackson County;
7) The Foreclosure Prevention Program will receive $5,000,000.00 to help Jackson County residents stay in their homes;
8) Non-Profit Capital Improvements will receive $5,000,000.00 to aid non-profit organizations serving Jackson County;
and;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Jackson County will allocate $8,000,000.00 to ensuring all residents have access to Affordable Housing; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, County Infrastructure will receive $20,900,000.00 to fund the University Health - Truman teardown, work on the Downtown Courthouse exterior, jury room renovations, Downtown Courthouse ground floor separation issue, and Truman Courthouse renovations, with any remaining funds to be available for other county infrastructure projects agreed to by the County Executive and Legislature; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Municipal Infrastructure programs will receive $20,000,000.00 that local municipalities can apply for to improve Jackson County infrastructure; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County Executive will undertake all required processes to insure that the monies are made available for contracting prior to December 31, 2024.
Effective Date: This resolution shall be effective immediately upon its signature by the County Executive.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________
County Counselor
I hereby certify that the attached resolution, Resolution No. 21764 introduced on October 14, 2024, was duly passed on ______________________________, 2024 by the Jackson County Legislature. The votes thereon were as follows:
Yeas _______________ Nays _____________
Abstaining ___________ Absent ____________
________________________ ____________________________________
Date Mary Jo Spino, Clerk of the Legislature