It’s been almost two years and it doesn’t look like the pandemic is going to subside anytime soon. Many relief grant programs were established to support municipalities impacted in a variety of ways by COVID-19. Relief was provided by the Federal government with the CARES Act. More recently, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) continued the effort by providing funds to stabilize the financial crisis and promote sustainability in communities.
If you’re looking for municipal grants that are still available, we’ve listed a few below, but the deadlines are rapidly approaching.
ARPA Grant Programs for Municipalities
Municipalities can apply for Economic Adjustment Assistance directly from the Economic Development Administration (EDA). The program is focused on stabilizing the local economy and fostering resilience in the future. It is intended for planning and creating projects to get communities back to work and recovering from financial hardship.
Cities and counties may use the funds to get relief to the community’s businesses, non-profit organizations, and households. This can be done by creating construction projects to physically build infrastructure that meets the community’s needs or non-construction projects, like grant programs to administer direct relief.
The deadline to apply is March 31, 2022, and assistance is subject to availability. If an award is made, funds must be allocated by September 30, 2022, and expire by September 27, 2027.
The Good Jobs Challenge was initiated to give employees better skills and create more job opportunities. Municipalities can request funds to further develop their regional workforce training systems by training workers with the skills employers need. The program calls for sectoral partnerships between employers and organizations that provide human resources, such as workforce boards, colleges, universities, etc.
Employers connect with the organizations to develop a training curriculum based on the needs they discussed. The Good Jobs challenge will cover expenses related to the curriculum and training materials. It also provides funding to support the organizations that provide the training.
There is a job placement priority, and the program requires trainees to be offered a quality job with the employer within the partnership. The EDA says a quality job offers premium pay exceeding minimum wage with benefits including, but not limited to, medical insurance, paid leave, and a retirement plan. This way, employers can satisfy their workforce shortage, and workers have better employment opportunities.
Municipalities can apply for the program directly from the EDA. The deadline was extended to February 10, 2022, and funds are subject to availability.
Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) are available to be requested directly from the US Treasury. City and county entities are eligible for submission. It was created for state and local governments to combat and recover from the ongoing pandemic.
There’s a wide range of ways to apply the funds. SLFRF can be used to:
In a survey conducted by ICMA, 84% of county and city managers report using Recovery Funds to improve their water, sewage, and broadband infrastructure. There’s been a huge initiative to provide clean drinking water, upgrade storm drainage systems, and expand the broadband network.
There’s a rolling deadline for the SLFRF, but the US treasury strongly advises applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible. Funds are subject to availability.
The programs listed do require progress reports, updates, and staying compliant. Contact your financial department or state Economic Development Representative for specific details or to ask questions regarding your community's specific situation and circumstances.
If you need assistance implementing your grant program or would like to improve your reporting process, schedule a demo here!
If you need assistance implementing your grant program or would like to improve your reporting process, schedule a demo here!
