 SPARK Executive Committee to Hold Regional Meeting in Wichita
The SPARK Taskforce Executive Committee will hold a regional meeting in Wichita at 8 a.m. Monday, October 18, 2021, to gather information and feedback from Kansans.
SPARK will use that input to prepare proposals for the most effective statewide distribution of federal coronavirus relief funds allocated to Kansas through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of March 2021.
Members of the public are encouraged to attend. To watch the meeting online follow this link: SPARK Regional Meeting. If Kansans would like to submit written testimony to the SPARK Executive Committee, please send a copy of your testimony to ethan.s.belshe@ks.gov by October 20, 2021. Written testimony will be limited to 500 words maximum.
If attendees would like to provide verbal, in-person testimony, sign-up sheets will be available at the meeting on Monday, October 18. Testimony will be limited to two minutes to allow for as many voices to be heard as possible.
What: SPARK Taskforce Regional Meeting
Where: Santa Fe Room (Room 233), Rhatigan Student Center
Wichita State University
1845 Fairmount St. #56
Wichita, Kansas
When: 8 - 10 a.m. CT Monday, October 18, 2021
The SPARK Executive Committee will hold future regional meetings as shown below. Details regarding how to attend will be released prior to each meeting.
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November 4, Dodge City Community College
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November 15, Kansas City Community College
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December 10, Virtual
If you have any questions about the SPARK Executive Committee, the Office of Recovery or ARPA, please visit https://covid.ks.gov.
 SPARK Taskforce Announces Advisory Panel Membership
On October 8, the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce Executive Committee appointed members to the group’s four advisory panels: Health and Education, Economic Revitalization, Connectivity, and Efficiency and Modernization.
The advisory panels will gather information and feedback from Kansans, using that input to prepare proposals within each issue area for the most effective statewide distribution of federal coronavirus relief funds allocated to Kansas through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of March 2021.
“I am confident that each advisory panel will develop comprehensive ARPA funding proposals for strategic investments where they are needed most,” Governor Kelly said. “I appreciate all advisory panel members for committing their time and energy into building a stronger economy for future generations of Kansans.”
“This outstanding group of advisory panel members from throughout Kansas will help us equitably allocate ARPA funds in truly impactful ways,” Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland said. “Working together, we’ll pursue thoughtful investments in our economy and quality of life for all Kansans.”
“I am grateful for all who have agreed to serve on the advisory panels to help guide our ARPA funds in a way that will have a long term positive impact on the lives of Kansans,” Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson said. ” Each brings a unique area of expertise, and I am looking forward to working with them to identify ways we can best invest these important dollars into the Kansas economy.”
“This is the right group to have around the table to make these important investment decisions,” Speaker of the House Ron Ryckman said. “They bring the business and policymaking experience we need to ensure the state’s economic turnaround.”
The members of each advisory panel are as follows:
Economic Revitalization: The Economic Revitalization Advisory Panel will consider issues related to economic development and will seek to make investments with long term impact for the Kansas economy.
- Kansas Representative Sean Tarwater
- Kansas Senator J.R. Claeys
- Kansas House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer
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Tien Hyunh, Entrepreneur/Business Owner
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Andrew Nave, Executive Vice President, Greater Wichita Partnership
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Lona Duvall, President, Finney County Economic Development Council
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Tim McKee, CEO, Olathe Chamber of Commerce
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Brett Leopold, Vice President, ITC Great Plains
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Sam Sackett, VP of Government Relations, Spirit AeroSystems
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Matt Condon, CEO, Bardavon Health Innovations
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Ryan Flickner, Senior Director of Advocacy, Kansas Farm Bureau
Health and Education: The Health and Education Advisory Panel will consider issues related to social services, education, and improving the health and wellness of Kansans.
- Kansas Representative Kristey Williams
- Kansas Senator Renee Erickson
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Kansas Senate Minority Leader Sykes
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Robyn Chadwick, VP Operations, Behavioral Health, Ascension Via Christi
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Raphael Wahwassuck, Tribal Council Member, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation
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Jarvis Collier, Senior Pastor, Pleasant Green Baptist Church
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McClain Macklin, Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, Health Forward Foundation
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Kathe Decker, Former Lawmaker
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Shawn Sullivan, CEO, Midland Care Connection
Connectivity: The Connectivity Advisory Panel will consider issues related to broadband and IT infrastructure.
- Kansas Senator Mike Peterson
- Kansas Representative Adam Smith
- Kansas Senator Tom Hawk
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Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent, Topeka Public Schools
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Stanley Adams, Director, Kansas Office of Broadband Development
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Ed Taylor, Principal/CEO, UES Consulting Services, Inc.
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Brian Vulgamore, Business Manager, Vulgamore Family Farms
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Paul Truitt, VP of Field Operations, Cox Communications
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Molly Kocour Boyle, President, AT&T Kansas
Efficiency and Modernization: The Efficiency and Modernization Advisory Panel will seek opportunities to modernize and improve government services.
- Kansas Representative Troy Waymaster
- Kansas Senator Michael Fagg
- Kansas Representative Kathy Wolfe-Moore
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Tanya Heffel, Chief Technology Officer, OITS
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Joe Mandala, CIO, KBI
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Frank Burnam, Director, Office of Facilities and Property Management for State of Kansas
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Michael Wilkes, City Manager, Olathe
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Mark Hutton, Retired CEO and Former Legislator
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Matt Billingsley, Former Kansas Department of Revenue
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Shane Mathis, CEO, Ally RNG
Additional information about the SPARK Committee, ARPA or the Governor’s Office of Recovery can be found at https://covid.ks.gov.
 Funding Available for Transit Agencies Impacted by COVID-19
On September 7, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the availability of $2.2 billion in competitive grant funding for transit systems that can demonstrate a need for additional assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Additional Assistance Funding, which is provided through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), can be used to cover a wide variety of operating expenses related to maintaining day-to-day operations, cleaning and sanitization, preventing the spread of viruses and maintaining critical staffing levels.
This funding will help those transit agencies most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as applications will be reviewed based on the level of financial need.
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants include eligible recipients of Urbanized Area Formula funds or Rural Area Formula funds who, as a result of COVID-19, require additional assistance. This includes Indian tribes that are eligible recipients of Urbanized Area Formula funds or Rural Area Formula funds.
Eligible Projects
Eligible projects are operating costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, and sanitization combating the spread of pathogens on transit systems, and debt service payments incurred to maintain operations and avoid layoffs and furloughs as a result of COVID-19. As required by ARPA, amounts made available for Additional Assistance Funding are available only for operating expenses.
Application Instructions
Applicants must apply via grants.gov and attach the supplemental form to their submission.
In addition to completing the supplemental form, applicants must select the appropriate application package in grants.gov based on the corresponding Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)/Assistance Listing under which the funding would be administered, 20.507 for Urban Area (5307 Program) requests or 20.509 for Rural Area (5311 Program) requests.
Applications for the program are due by November 8, 2021 and the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is available for review here. For more information on this funding, please review this presentation released by the FTA.
For more information on this ARP Additional Assistance, contact Sarah Clements, Office of Program Management, 202-366-3062 or email: FTAarpassistance@dot.gov.
 Webinars and Q&A Sessions
For additional support in spending and reporting federal relief funds, please consider attending a webinar or Q&A session hosted by the RO. Upcoming sessions include:
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Local Government Webinars
There will be no webinar on October 20, 2021 We will resume our normal webinar schedule on November 13, 2021. To view slides and recordings of previous webinars, follow this link: PRS Webinar
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Office of Recovery Q&A Sessions
Join us for an opportunity to ask the Office of Recovery questions about applying for funds, guidance from Treasury, upcoming deadlines, and other topics. These Q&A sessions are also an opportunity for local governments to share what they are doing and learn from one another. These sessions will be held every Thursday at 1 PM CT.
We have adjusted the format to include a registration, and as such previous links will not be valid. You can join the session by registering here: Register for Q&A Session
American Rescue Plan Act
- The latest version of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on ARPA can be found here.
- Local Governments and State Agencies can find a checklist to use before spending ARPA funds here.
CRF Investment Dashboard
For the latest on how 2020 COVID Relief Funds are spent, please visit the Investment Dashboard. The Investment Dashboard has been updated with August 2021 data, showing Kansas has allocated $1,015 billion and expended $1,001 billion in total CRF funds.
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