Federal funds available for worthy local projects

Kootenai County is soliciting projects to use $32 million of federal money.

The American Rescue Plan Act, approved by the Biden Administration earlier this year, is the third round of federal Economic Impact Payments since the start of COVID-19. 

Under the plan, state, local and tribal governments will receive $350 billion in emergency funding to remedy the strain COVID-19 placed on services, rising costs of goods and falling revenues. Local governments, like Kootenai County, will collectively receive about $130 billion. 

The federal funding allocated to Kootenai County through ARPA will be released in two installments and assigned to projects by the end of 2024. Use of the $32 million is available through Dec. 31, 2026. 

The Kootenai County ARPA Task Force is accepting proposals on how to use the funding. Interested parties must submit all requests by Oct. 31, and Kootenai County will post the final list of approved projects or programs after Dec. 31. 

“At this time, we’re just accumulating requests,” said Kootenai County Finance Director Dena Darrow. “There have been way more requests than we have money to spend.” 

To be approved, proposals must meet rules set by the U.S. Treasury Interim Rule criteria. According to the U.S. Treasury, funds may be used:

• To respond to the public health emergency or its negative economic impacts — including assistance to households, small businesses, nonprofits, or the tourism, travel and hospitality industries. 

• To respond to workers performing essential work during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing premium pay to eligible workers. 

• For provisions of government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue due to COVID-19.

• To make necessary investments in water, sewer or broadband infrastructure. 

“Once the final rule from the U.S. Treasury comes in on Oct. 31, we’ll evaluate all the requests and make recommendations to the board for which projects should be done,” Darrow said. 

All requests should be submitted in writing to ARPA@kcgov.us and must include:

• A brief description of the project or program

• The amount of funding being requested

• A detailed narrative outlining its applicability to one of the four criteria categories

Info: www.whitehouse.gov/american-rescue-plan/