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June 25, 2021

The executive committee of the second Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce met for the first time on Wednesday, June 23. The Taskforce, originally established in May 2020 to oversee the distribution of funds from the federal CARES Act, is charged with leading Kansas forward in continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic through allocation of federal funds coming to Kansas through the American Rescue Plan Act.

New guidelines regarding available funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) are released each week. The Office of Recovery will keep you informed of relevant resources, funding and key program developments, not just across ARPA, but also under the CARES Act and the Consolidated Appropriations Act (HR 133). For more frequent news, please visit the Office of Recovery website at:

COVID.ks.gov

Community Impact

Monthly Child Tax Credit Online Tool

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service announced the availability of a new online tool to help families who normally aren’t required to file an income tax return to register quickly for the expanded and newly-advanceable Child Tax Credit from the American Rescue Plan. The new tool is part of a larger effort to help more families obtain advance Child Tax Credit payments.

Available through IRS.gov, the new Non-filer Sign-up Tool is for people who did not file an income tax return for 2019 or 2020 and did not use the IRS Non-filers tool last year to register for Economic Impact Payments. The tool enables them to quickly provide required information about themselves and their qualifying children age 17 and under.

Users of the tool can also choose to enter direct deposit bank information so the IRS can deposit the payments directly into their checking or savings account. Eligible individuals who filed a 2019 or 2020 tax return or used the IRS Non-filers tool last year to register for Economic Impact Payments do not need to take any action to receive their advance Child Tax Credit payments beginning in July.

This tool, an update of last year’s IRS Non-filers tool, is also designed to help eligible individuals who don’t normally file income tax returns register for the $1,400 third round of Economic Impact Payments (also known as stimulus checks) and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit for any amount of the first two rounds of Economic Impact Payments they may have missed.

The Non-filer Sign-up Tool can be found here.

Program Spotlight

FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund

Last week, the FCC announced the initial filing window for the Emergency Connectivity Fund, a $7.17 billion program that will help schools and libraries provide the tools and services their communities need for remote learning during the COVID-19 emergency period.

From June 29, 2021 to August 13, 2021, eligible schools and libraries can apply for financial support to purchase connected devices like laptops and tablets, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and broadband connectivity to meet unmet needs for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons during the COVID-19 emergency period.  During this application filing window, eligible schools and libraries, in addition to consortia of schools and libraries, can submit requests for funding to purchase eligible equipment and services between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022.

The FCC will host a webinar on June 25, at 1 pm CT on fcc.gov/live to provide an overview of the Emergency Connectivity Fund, including applicant eligibility, supported equipment and services, reasonable support amounts, and the application and invoicing processes.

In addition, a one page information sheet on the program can be found here.

More information about the program is available here, including information about how to apply and what schools and libraries can do now to prepare.   Schools and libraries can sign up to receive programs updates and information about future training sessions. Help with program questions is also available by calling 800-234-9781 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET.   

Services and Support

American Rescue Plan Act

• The application form for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Fiscal Relief Funds (LFRF), awarded by the U.S. Department of Treasury and disbursed from the State of Kansas, is now available.  A link to the application was emailed directly to NEU contacts. If you did not receive a message, please submit an updated email through the RO inquiry form.
  • Funds will be distributed to those who have completed the application and certification process, with initial payment processing beginning on July 1, 2021. 
  • For the State to fulfill the Treasury’s deadline for distributing NEU awards, all applications must be completed by July 26, 2021. 

• The latest version of frequently asks questions on ARPA can be found here. FAQs will be updated frequently, with edits highlighted in the RO newsletter.
• Local Governments and State Agencies can find a check-list to use before spending ARPA funds here. This content was developed by the RO in partnership with CliftonLarsonAllen.

Health

• All Kansans aged 12 years and above, are eligible to be vaccinated. To find your nearest vaccination location, please visit the Find My Vaccine Tool. The latest information on vaccine administration, safety, and more, can be found here.
• To find out where to get tested for COVID, visit Go Get Tested.
• Uninsured or underinsured? You can apply for insurance through the Healthcare.gov marketplace or  learn more about KanCare eligibility and apply at https://kancare.ks.gov/.
• Applications for the Kansas Prevention Collaborative Community Initiative grant are now being accepted. Learn more here.

Essential Needs

• Kansans participating in SNAP will continue to receive a 15% increase in benefits through September 30th.
• Applications are now open for the Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program providing emergency rental, utility, and internet assistance

Others

• Emergency Capitals Investment Program application closes 7/6. More info here.
• FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit Program open. More information and application here.
• FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund opens June 29. More information about the program is available here.

For the latest on how 2020 COVID Relief Funds are spent, please visit the dashboard for the previous month's updates.

Funding Status

Behavioral Health

• KDADS received noticed of award for the Mental Health Block Grant (ARPA) and Substance Abuse Block Grant (ARPA). The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is distributing $3 billion across the country in American Rescue Plan funding — the largest aggregate amount of funding to date for its mental health and substance use block grant programs

Agriculture

• Funding for specialty crops announced (HR 133) The purpose of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.

State Government

• Received first tranche of State Fiscal Recovery Funds (ARPA). The state will receive the second half of its funding in 2022.

Local Government

• Kansas received first tranche of Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to disburse to Non-Entitlement Units of Government (NEUs). The state will receive the second half of NEU funding in 2022. A final list of NEUs receiving funding available here.

Further funding received and expected from the American Rescue Plan will be shared in subsequent newsletters.

Contact the RO

The Office of Recovery is still here to offer support and coordination, and staff are available to answer your questions by phone and email.

(785) 368-8507

Warm Regards,

DeAngela Burns-Wallace, Ed.D.

On behalf of the Office of Recovery, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly Secretary, Kansas Department of Administration