The City of Concord says its ARPA non-profit grants will be considered at its March 7 city council meeting.
At its Sept. 27 2022 meeting, the Concord City Council identified the funding categories, dollar allocations to spending categories, and the process for allocating one-time, federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds within each spending category:
- $7 million: City Projects, Public Safety and Special Events
- $7 million: Support for Nonprofit Organizations
- $3 million: Support for the Unhoused
- $2 million: Support for Small Businesses
The funding for nonprofit organizations will be provided in amounts between $50,000 and $2 million. Applications were accepted between Sept. 30 and Oct. 28, 2022, and the awards are expected to be considered at the March 7, 2023 Council meeting — NOT at its Feb. 28 meeting, as was previously shared. The ARPA ad-hoc will present its recommendations to the full Council for consideration and discussion.
The staff report and agenda for the March 7 meeting will be posted to the Council agenda site no later than 5 p.m. on March 3.
Editors Notes
Back in December, The Homeless Strategic Plan (Plan) is intended to guide future City efforts and investments related to responding to the impacts from and the needs of Concord’s unsheltered population, using data and fact based information
The move comes after the City Council set aside $5.4million of one-time funding, to be used for programs and services identified in a Homeless Strategic Plan. That funding came after a survey from city residents where 51.9% of respondents cited homelessness as the most serious issue facing the residents of Concord.
That prompted Concord to set aside $2.4 million in one-time general funds in March to help support the issue. In September, Council allocated an additional $3 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds for a total of $5.4 million of one-time funding available for projects and priorities established in the strategic plan. This funding will also be used to fund the consultant costs associated with development of the plan.
Concord Timeline:
- January 2022 – Community Satisfaction Survey
- March 2022 – $2.4 million set aside for homeless services
- April 2022 – Homeless Strategic Plan Prioritized
- August 2022 – Work Plan for development of Strategic plan
- September 2022 – Additional $3 million allocated ($5.4 million total)
- October 2022 – HED developed recommendations, issued RFP.
- January, 24 – Award Contract to Consultant
- January 2023 – Adoption of Homeless Strategic Plan.
Staff highlighted at the meeting they understood the community wants a plan to move faster, but they were ensuring it was a very robust process with engaging the public while bringing fact based information to the plan—which could take 12-months. The working group will only be in place until the plan is adopted.
Mayor Laura Hoffmeister had concerns over the January 3, 2023 deadline. Staff said they could extend the deadline, but were trying to avoid having the working group seated after they had a consultant on board, they hoped to bring them in together.
Council Documents:
- Agenda Staff Report for – ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE HOMELESS STRATEGIC PLAN (15222)
- Resolution for – – Attachment 1_ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE HOMELESS STRATEGIC PLAN (15222)
- Supporting Document for – – Attachment 2_ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE HOMELESS STRATEGIC PLAN (15222)
