 This week’s edition of the Office of Recovery Newsletter features an article that details the funding request that was approved by the State Finance Council for $154M in ARPA funding on January 10, 2022. This edition also includes information about the release of the US Treasury's Final Rule document and some of the most notable changes from the Interim Final Rule.
Also included is an article highlighting two completed, CRF-funded programs that were implemented by the Office of Broadband Development. The Broadband Partnership Adoption Grants (BPAG) and the Connectivity Emergency Response Grants (CERG) worked in tandem to update broadband infrastructure across Kansas and provide affordable internet services and electronic devices to low-income families.
For the latest information about resources available to Kansans, see the “Updates to Services and Support” section of this newsletter. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the Office of Recovery website at: COVID.ks.gov
SPARK Executive Council Approves $154M for Economic Revitalization, Health and Education and Connectivity
The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Executive Committee approved a funding request for $154M of SLFRF funding on December 20, 2021. The resolution was then presented to the State Finance Council and approved on January 10, 2022. The $154M proposal included spending across three categories: Economic Revitalization, Health and Education and Connectivity.
The SPARK Committee allocated $100M to Economic Revitalization which includes investments to support building development, modernization of business park facilities and other infrastructure development, and the attraction and retention of Kansas businesses. Additional details around specific services available, eligibility criteria, and how to apply are under development and will be released once finalized.
An amount of $50M was allocated to provide Individual Education Learning Loss Grants. These funds will provide direct grants of $1,000 per child to families to purchase materials to offset learning loss. Purchases could include educational materials, computers, software, tutoring services, etc.
The remaining $4M was allocated to match funds for school districts to use alongside the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) E-rate program to invest in high-speed broadband buildout to increase connectivity for Kansas students.
This allocation brings the 2021 State Fiscal Recovery Fund allocations by SPARK to a total of $261M, including prior investments in the Frontline Hospital Employee Retention program ($50M), an extension of testing funding ($27M), and the 24/7 Facility Pay Plan ($30M).
To learn more about the SPARK process and approved funding programs, visit our website: SPARK Information. If you have any questions, please visit https://covid.ks.gov/ and click on “Contact Us” on the top right corner.
ARPA Update – Final Rule Released
Local governments should be aware of a significant change that states, “The Final Rule offers a standard allowance for revenue loss of $10 million, allowing recipients to select between a standard amount of revenue loss or complete a full revenue loss calculation. Recipients that select the standard allowance may use that amount – in many cases their full award – for government services, with streamlined reporting requirements."
The guidance outlined in the Final Rule will take effect no later than April 1, 2022.
The Office of Recovery will be hosting a webinar on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at 11 a.m. to discuss the Final Rule document. You can register to attend this webinar here: Webinar Registration.
For more information, resources and documents regarding SLFRF funding and the Final Rule please visit this Treasury webpage.
If you have any questions, please visit https://covid.ks.gov/ and click on “Contact Us” on the top right corner.
The Office of Broadband Development Invests in Connectivity in Kansas
In 2020, approximately $60M in Coronavirus Relief Funding (CRF) was allocated to the Kansas Office of Broadband Development (KOBD) to increase connectivity in the State of Kansas. Increasing access to Broadband became an urgent priority as the COVID-19 pandemic forced many to stay at home to fight the spread of the virus.
As a result, KOBD launched two pandemic response programs. Connectivity Emergency Response Grants (CERG) and the Broadband Partnership Adoption Grant Program (BPAG) were created to drive immediate access and long-term impact. Expanding broadband infrastructure and supporting internet access is vital to enabling telehealth care, remote learning, and remote work, while also investing in the state of Kansas for future generations.
The Office of Broadband Development in partnership with the Office of Recovery funded 91 pandemic response projects. This included 66 infrastructure construction projects (CERG) and 25 digital equity and adoption (BPAG) projects to provide broadband access for Kansans.
The Connectivity Emergency Response Grant (CERG) program dedicated $50M for infrastructure deployment projects across the state. A total of 66 grants were awarded which resulted in the construction of nearly 700 miles of high-capacity fiber and the installation or improvements for 226 towers reaching many unserved rural communities.
The Broadband Partnership Adoption Grant (BPAG) program provided support for low-income households through internet subscription services and access to hotspots and devices during the COVID-19 pandemic. KOBD partnered with school districts and service providers across the state to identify areas of critical need during this critical period. This $10M program funded 25 projects in total.
Overall, the CRF programs have helped connect over 50,000 Kansas homes, businesses and community institutions, and have helped 40,000 students and low-income households get access to affordable internet services and devices.
To learn more about how the Office of Broadband Development continues to service Kansans and view a map of current and past broadband projects, you can visit their website: Kansas Office of Broadband Development
Treasury Final Rule Overview Webinar
Attend this presentation by the Office of Recovery that provides an overview of the Final Rule released by the US Department of Treasury. This webinar will take place Wednesday, January 19, at 11 a.m.
Upcoming Reporting Deadline for Some Metropolitan Cities and Counties on January 31, 2022
As a reminder, Metropolitan cities and counties with populations exceeding 250,000 residents or received more than $10M in SLFRF funding and Tribal Governments who received more than $30M are required to submit their Project and Expenditure Report by January 31, 2022. For more information on the requirements for reporting, Treasury has supplied a Compliance and Reporting Guidance document.
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