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American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) Community Grant Program

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) was signed by President Biden on March 11, 2021. It provided a total of $1.9 trillion in COVID-19 relief funding, including $19.5 billion specifically targeted to local governments with less than 50,000 citizens. The City of Milford is receiving $6.33 million in ARPA funding in two installments – one was received in June 2021 and the balance will arrive in June 2022. The City of Milford Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Budget directed more than $300,000 in ARPA funding to local nonprofit organizations regularly supported through annual budget appropriations. However, in recognition of the emergent needs persisting in Milford, like communities across the country, the City is making additional ARPA funding available on a first come, first served basis to nonprofit applicants through December 31, 2024 or the exhaustion of program funding, whichever comes first. A description of the materials required in your application follow. Please direct any questions about the application process to mbarger@milford-de.gov.

Eligible Uses and Restrictions

All expenditures must satisfy an eligible purpose as stipulated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (UST) in the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery (CSLFR) Funds Final Rule, as amended, or for expenditures made prior to the publication of the Final Rule, the Interim Final Rule (together, the “Rule”). A detailed description of eligible and ineligible activities may be found in the Interim Final Rule^[1]. In general, eligible uses of fiscal recovery funds fall under four (4) categories, three (3) of which apply to nonprofit organizations receiving funding through the City of Milford. Recipients must use the funding in one of the following ways:

1. Response to the impacts of COVID-19 in one of two ways:
   1. Response to the public health emergency, or
   2. Response to the negative economic impacts related to the public health emergency,
2. Provision of premium pay or grants to provide premium pay for essential workers, and
3. Investment in water, sewer (including stormwater) or broadband infrastructure.

Applicants will be asked to identify which category best defines the intended use of requested program funding as 1a, 1b, 2 and/or 3.

In addition, there are three (3) specific restrictions to the use of CSLFR Funds that apply to nonprofit organizations receiving funding through the City of Milford. Recipients may NOT use the funding:

1. To make deposits into pension accounts,
2. As a matching contribution to a non-Federal grant, or
3. For administrative purposes such as debt service, legal judgments or settlements, or contributions to a reserve fund.

All expenditures made with fiscal recovery funds must comply with the full requirements of Rule.

Reporting

In order to track all expenditures of CSLRF funds and to fulfil the City’s own reporting requirements per UST guidelines, the City of Milford requires full reporting of any activities performed with fiscal recovery funds for any successful applicant (Subrecipient) awarded $50,000 or more. The report must be presented to the City using the Grant Opportunities submission portal on the City of Milford website by October 15 annually. Subrecipients are also required to register and maintain an updated profile on SAM.gov. General reporting information is available in the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Compliance and Reporting Guidance^[2], and further reporting information will be provided should your successful application result in a subaward.

Application Requirements

1. Cover Sheet: The Cover Sheet will be online if applications reopen.
2. Cover Letter: Provide a one-page cover letter that provides information regarding the nature of the program and its purpose. The following elements are required:
   • Name of the program
   • Purpose of the program
   • A strategic reason for the funder to consider the program
   • Amount of money requested
   • The time period of the program
   • The name of the contact person and their contact information
   • Please have the letter signed by the board president or chairperson and the executive director. If the request is collaborative, please provide signatures of representatives from all participating organizations.
3. Narrative: Provide a description of the funding request that explains your program or project and utilizes the headings described. Feel free to provide additional relevant information.  Avoid duplicating information in different parts of the narrative. Thoroughness is important, but so is brevity. Include the following headings and information:
   1. Organizational Information: Provide background on your organization. If you are an affiliate of another organization, please describe.
      • State your mission
      • Summarize your organization’s history
      • Outline current programs and activities
      • Highlight accomplishments
   2. Purpose of Funding: Describe the purpose of the funding and why it is needed by your organization.
      • Problem and Need – Identify the problem(s) to be addressed and the needs to be met by the project(s). What unique service(s) would the community be deprived of if you do not undertake this project? Provide supporting data.
      • Program/Project Goal(s) – Describe the goal(s) and overall impact of the project or program.
      • Program/Project Design – Describe your program objectives, activities, strategies, staffing, partners, timelines and explain how the design will enable you to address the problem or need. Identify the project as a new or continuing program.
      • Sustainability – Specify your plans for financing the project after the City of Milford ARPA funding is exhausted.
   3. Evaluation Plan: It is important that the program be evaluated for success with the funds, both for the knowledge of the City of Milford, and for the records of programs.
      • Outcomes – Describe the proposed program or project outcomes and the general long-range plans of the organization.
      • Measurement – Describe how results will be documented and measured, and how success will be determined. Be prepared to follow through with documentation of measurements to report the results to the City of Milford and if applicable, the U.S. Treasury’s required compliance.   
4. Program/Project Budget: Provide an itemized budget and a budget narrative explaining the details of your program’s financial status.
   1. Itemized Budget: Provide an itemized budget of the costs and expenditures related to your program. Appendix B is a sample itemized budget in short format. Feel free to populate the sample or provide your Organization’s actual budget document.
      • Budget Heading – specify the budget period, the requested amount and the total cost of the project.
      • Revenue – If the requested amount is different from the total cost of the project, itemize all confirmed and anticipated sources of revenue, and provide a revenue total. Refer to the following example for possible revenue categories. Also, indicate the amount of funds, if any, for this project that will be drawn from your operating budget and/or reserves/endowment fund.
      • Expenditures – Itemize your expenses and provide an expense total. Include any additional items relevant to your particular program or project.
   2. Budget Narrative (optional): Feel free to share a budget narrative including any of the following information:
      • A list of assumptions on which the budget was based
      • An explanation of any unusual budget items
      • Description of any in-kind expenses, donations or matching funds
      • Funding from or to any affiliates and/or subsidiaries of your organization

5. Submission Process: Completed Application consisting of the materials required in sections A through D herein, as well as all applicable IRS correspondence and documentation supporting your response to the Nonprofit Organization Type question in Appendix A must be submitted to the City of Milford using the Grant Opportunities submission portal on the City of Milford website.  Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis until the earlier of December 31, 2024 or the date program funding is exhausted.