Podcasts about american rescue plan act arpa

Federal funding cuts aren't just trimming budgets, they're dismantling the lifelines millions depend on. In this episode of BHT Bytes, hosts Peter Fenger and Sharlee Dixon unpack the sweeping rollback of public health funding led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump administration. With a proposed $12 billion in cuts, including $11 billion from the CDC and $1 billion from SAMHSA, critical programs like mental health services, addiction treatment, HIV prevention, and virtual therapy are on the chopping block. These reductions target resources established under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), threatening to destabilize care in underserved communities, rural areas, and among vulnerable populations like veterans. We examine what these cuts mean for the future of behavioral health in the U.S., how communities are responding, and why the loss of this funding could reverse decades of hard-won progress.   Follow Behavioral Health Today on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/behavioralhealthtoday/ Follow us on TikTok at: https://www.tiktok.com/@behavioralhealthtoday Follow us on Threads at: https://www.threads.net/@behavioralhealthtoday Or watch us live on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvOeCMGsF7B2gNBHuWxt-fQ

This Day in Legal History: Lincoln Signs Legal Tender ActOn February 25, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Legal Tender Act into law, allowing the U.S. government to issue paper money not backed by gold or silver. These new notes, called "greenbacks" due to their color, became the first widely circulated fiat currency in American history. The Civil War had placed enormous financial strain on the Union, and the government needed a way to fund its war effort without relying solely on borrowing or taxation. By making greenbacks legal tender for all debts except customs duties, the law ensured their widespread use. However, the move was controversial, as some feared it would cause inflation and undermine public confidence in the currency. Despite this, the greenbacks helped stabilize the wartime economy and ensured that soldiers and suppliers were paid. After the war, legal battles arose over whether the government could require creditors to accept paper money instead of gold or silver. The Supreme Court initially ruled against the policy in Hepburn v. Griswold (1870) but reversed its decision in The Legal Tender Cases (1871), upholding the government's power to issue fiat currency. The Legal Tender Act set a precedent for the federal government's control over the monetary system, paving the way for modern U.S. currency.A federal judge has temporarily blocked Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DGE) from accessing sensitive data held by the U.S. Education Department and the Office of Personnel Management. The ruling, issued by Judge Deborah Boardman in Maryland, came in response to a lawsuit from labor unions arguing that granting DGE access to personal records violated the Privacy Act of 1974. The data in question includes Social Security numbers, addresses, income details, and citizenship status of federal employees and student aid recipients. The Trump administration contended that restricting DGE's access would hinder its government downsizing efforts, but the judge determined that the agency had no legitimate need for such information. The White House has not commented on the decision. Since Trump's return to office, DGE, led by Musk, has pursued aggressive cost-cutting measures, including mass layoffs. The ruling follows another court decision in New York that blocked DGE from accessing Treasury Department systems, amid multiple lawsuits challenging its authority.US judge blocks Musk's DOGE team from accessing Education Department, OPM data | ReutersPresident Donald Trump is set to appoint Kash Patel, the newly confirmed FBI director, as the acting head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), according to a source. Patel, a staunch Trump ally, will oversee both agencies simultaneously, a move that has sparked concerns among Democrats and moderate Republicans who previously opposed his FBI nomination due to his history of targeting Trump's critics. Patel has strong backing from pro-gun groups and is expected to shift the ATF's focus away from firearm regulation. The decision aligns with Trump's campaign rhetoric criticizing the ATF for being overly aggressive toward gun owners. Attorney General Pam Bondi recently fired the agency's top legal counsel, Pamela Hicks, claiming ATF officials had unfairly targeted gun owners. Bondi has also redirected the ATF's priorities toward immigration enforcement. Patel's dual appointment is part of a broader Trump administration strategy, with multiple officials holding multiple roles, including Marco Rubio at the State Department and Russ Vought at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.Trump to name FBI chief Patel as acting ATF director, source says | ReutersFrom a great piece written by Karl Bode for Techdirt, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is funding affordable, community-owned broadband networks in underserved areas, challenging monopoly control by major telecom companies. In New York, Oswego County received a $26 million grant to build an open-access fiber network, allowing multiple internet providers to compete over shared infrastructure. The network's primary provider, Empire Access, is offering 500 Mbps service for $50 a month and 1 Gbps for $65, significantly undercutting industry giants like Charter and Verizon.Similarly, Minnesota's Carver County has used ARPA funds to build dark fiber infrastructure, leasing it to MetroNet in a public-private partnership. MetroNet now provides residents with gigabit fiber for $50 and 5 Gbps for $110, far cheaper than traditional providers. This strategy contrasts with other states that continue to funnel broadband subsidies to large telecoms with a history of neglecting rural and low-income areas.Some states—Vermont, Maine, California, and New York—are using federal funds to expand community-owned broadband, treating internet access as an essential utility. However, with an additional $42.5 billion in broadband grants from the 2021 infrastructure bill set to be distributed, the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DGE) will likely attempt to redirect these funds toward corporate-backed projects instead of community-driven initiatives.ARPA Is Quietly Funding Cheap ($50-$65 A Month) Community-Owned Gigabit Fiber Access To Long Neglected Neighborhoods | Techdirt This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

As we step into a new year, we're taking a look back at the impact of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the important projects it continues to support at EMWD. In this episode, EMWD Senior Director of Engineering, Shaun Stone, joins us to break down the progress, benefits, and future of these critical infrastructure investments.

Love Columbia says one in five Columbia residents live in poverty and that many others struggle to make ends meet and find livable wage jobs. The nonprofit organization says there is not enough affordable rental housing here, adding that few income-based public housing units have been built in the city in the past 45 years. The group also says increases in wages have not kept pace with the cost of rent. Love Columbia says they serve anyone locally who struggles to provide for their basic needs and who wants to help create a path forward. Love Columbia co-founder and executive director Jane Williams joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour this weekend on 939 the Eagle's “CEO Roundtable” She grew up in western Missouri's Platte City and earned her undergraduate and master's degrees from Mizzou in Columbia. She tells listeners that she loved Columbia so much that she never left. Years ago, she and Pamela Ingram would go door-to-door in the public housing around Columbia's Douglass park area and pray with residents and children. Ms. Ingram, who founded Granny's House, has passed away. Ms. Williams says Love Columbia's three main buckets are financial coaching, housing coaching and career coaching. Love Columbia served more than three-thousand people in 2024. Boone County Presiding Commissioner Kip Kendrick is praising the work Love Columbia is doing to help residents facing homelessness. He and more than 100 others attended last fall's groundbreaking ceremony for new transitional housing on East Ash, near College Avenue. Boone County awarded the project $1-million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars, while the city of Columbia awarded $600,000 in ARPA money to Love Columbia for transitional housing. Prost Builders is building the project. Commissioner Kendrick tells 939 the Eagle News what stood out to commissioners is that this project is focused on families and children. During the one-hour weekend interview with Fred, Ms. Williams also addressed child care issues in the city, along with inflation issues and increasing insurance costs and property taxes:

In this episode, Chris Rongey and Amy Marxkors welcome Missouri State Representative Steve Butz to discuss alarming concerns about potential fraud in a grant program funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in St. Louis. Butz highlights specific instances where non-existent businesses received grants and some denied applicants received $12,500. Criticizing the St. Louis Development Corporation and its third-party vendor, Grow USA, for inadequate vetting, Butz calls for an investigation by the State Auditor. The conversation emphasizes the need for transparency and accountability in grant distribution, urging residents to report any suspicious activities.

[Video below] A “shelter of last resort” emergency evacuation center is coming to Wilson County as part of the county's emergency and resiliency plan. The project will include expansion of the current Wilson County Expo and Community Center on S.H. 97 in Floresville —formerly the county show barn — to provide a safe haven for community members during and after a disaster or crisis. Wilson County commissioners on Aug. 12 approved updated use of existing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds totaling ,215,261 towards the shelter expansion project and [post_excerpt],080,362 toward the county's Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which is also...Article Link

On this episode of the Hendrickson Group (formerly ITR Live), Chris Hagenow and Chris Ingstad take a look at additional data from the recent Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll. According to these results, inflation is the biggest issue on the minds of Iowa voters, and they have no confidence left in Joe Biden to address the problem. One of the biggest drivers of inflation is the huge increase in deficit spending at the federal level, exemplified by the monstrosity that was the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). ITR cautioned local governments from using these dollars to fund ongoing programs, and we take a look at yet another program in Des Moines that has a very uncertain future after now that the money has run out.

Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve and White House officials visited several northern Nevada projects yesterday where American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds have been used, including an affordable housing project in downtown Reno.

The Columbia Police Department is currently 41 officers short, according to CPD assistant chief Jeremiah Hunter. Columbia Police Officers Association (CPOA) president Matt Nichols is concerned about that number and about staffing levels. Mr. Nichols joined us live on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Mid-Missouri" this morning, telling listeners that one detective left the department because of the way the community is leaning. Mr. Nichols and CPOA are also disappointed because Columbia's city council has not allocated any federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars as premium/hazard pay for law enforcement officers and other essential workers who were unable to work from home during the COVID pandemic. Mr. Nichols tells listeners that one-time money would help retain Columbia Police officers, as well as bus drivers and garbage collectors. Mayor Barbara Buffaloe has noted Columbia's city council approved a fiscal year 2024 budget in September that saw an across-the-board increase in pay, and an increase in starting salary for police officers. While Mr. Nichols acknowledges those two points, he says inflation has eaten a lot of that raise:

Columbia has received $25 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars, while Boone County has received $35-million in federal ARPA dollars. President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act into law. Boone County commissioner Janet Thompson joined us live on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Mid-Missouri", telling listeners that more than 100 groups submitted ARPA applications to the county which totaled about $84-million. She notes 27 applications were funded. Commissioner Thompson tells listeners that commissioners hope to get the second round going in 2024, and she encourages applicants who didn't receive funding the first time to resubmit. She also praises Boone County's Nature Center, which is being built in the Three Creeks Conservation Area just south of Columbia. Commissioner Thompson notes the nature school is available to ALL Boone County school districts, adding that Three Creeks is a major part of the area's ecosystem:

Columbia Police Officers Association (CPOA) president Matt Nichols says his officers don't feel appreciated and don't feel valued. Columbia's city council voted this week to approve a resolution allocating $25-million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. The CPOA is not happy because the council has not allocated any ARPA dollars as premium/hazard pay for law enforcement officers and other essential workers who were unable to work from home during the COVID pandemic. The CPOA says these city employees risked their safety and health for everyone in Columbia, adding that the hazard incentive would have demonstrated that the community recognizes their ongoing sacrifice. CPOA president Nichols also blasted the defund the police movement, telling listeners that "there's a lot of money in hating the police":

PHARR, Texas - Steve Valdez executive director of Weslaco Economic Development Corporation, says plans are being developed to bury a canal so that the runway of Mid-Valley Airport can be extended by 1,000 feet.According to Weslaco Mid-Valley Airport website, the airport currently has a 6,000 x 80 foot lighted runway.Valdez announced the plans when he spoke at IWS2, the industrial warehouse summit hosted by Pharr Bridge Board and held at Pharr Development and Research Center. The theme for the summit was, “Building a Competitive Border Region for Near-Shoring and Industrial Growth.”Valdez said: “We have a what we believe is the fourth largest airport (in the Rio Grande Valley), behind Harlingen, McAllen and Brownsville. Recently we were awarded with a $5.7 million grant for additional hangars. We just finished about six hangars and so we seem to be growing in terms of the airport.”Valdez then pointed to a slide in a powerpoint presentation.“If you can see it… at the very top of the airport there's a canal and the City is looking at ways to cross that canal. Bury the canal process so that you can extend another 1,000 feet for our airport runway.”Leaders from across Hidalgo County recently attended a press conference to hear the announcement of the $5.7 million grant. Valdez said that the press conference.“During the announcement of the $5.7 million we went to the Payne Auto Group hangar, a 10,000 square foot hangar that sits about six airplanes, a beautiful location,” Valdez said at IWS2.“If you get a chance to stop by there at some point, it is a really nice expansion to our airport. On site (customs) inspections, as you can see. Within one hour, if you call ahead of time, you could have Customs Border Protection be there as well for your inspections.”The grant for the new hangars came from state and federal resources. State lawmakers appropriated $5 million with Hidalgo County adding $750,000 from its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service to read the full story.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

Tom's first guest today is Shamiah T. Kerney, the Chief Recovery Officer in the Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs, an office set up by Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott to oversee the distribution of the $641 million dollars of funds allocated for the city from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). President Biden signed the ARPA measure into law in March of 2021, with the aim of helping communities across the nation speed their recovery from the dislocations caused by the COVID pandemic. The city's Office of Recovery Programs was established in July of that year. The first announcements about which agencies and organizations would be receiving the funds were made last fall. The city has until the end of 2024 to finish designating who gets the ARPA money, and until the end of 2026 to spend it. Mayor Scott has allocated funds to 28 different project categories, such as digital and phyiscal infrastructure, housing, violence intervention, COVID-19 response, homeless services and projects that are listed as "pending." Shemiah Kerney, who was Tom's guest back in April of this year, returns to Midday's Studio A to discuss the Office of Recovery Programs' continuing work, and to give us an update on how the ARPA funds are being allocated.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

“Time for an Awakening” with Bro.Elliott, Sunday 07/30/2023 at 7:00 PM (EST) guest was Activist, representing National Black Farmers Association, Mrs. Kara Brewer Boyd. After the lawsuit filled by Ben Crump in behalf of the National Black Farmers Assoc. for the repealed promised debt relief for Black farmers provided in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021, and the Federal Court dismissing the legal claim in April, were updated by Mrs. Kara Brewer Boyd on the continued fight against racist USDA policies backed by the Federal Government.  

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Brianna January joins Kevin Kinnally to explain why child care across the country could soon become more expensive and more difficult to find -- and why some advocates are concerned that Maryland's pre-k expansion plan could unintentionally add fuel to the fire.In 2021, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which included billions in grants to stabilize the child care system. Now the money --- which went to helping child care providers pay for rent, lowering tuition rates for families, and increasing wages for industry workers -- is about to run out.Absent these grats, some experts predict one-third of the child care facilities that receive the funding will close, costing the US economy more than $10 billion per year and costing families $9 billion annually in lost earnings. On top of that, Maryland faces a different set of challenges with the expansion of public pre-k programs across the state.The Blueprint for Maryland's Future ("The Blueprint") prioritizes early childhood education as its first pillar, including the gradual but eventual universal access to prekindergarten for 3- and 4-year-old children. One potential consequence causing concern for many stakeholders is the impact of pre-K expansion on the child care industry.The Blueprint envisions a collaborative system of public-private partnerships for expanded pre-K. With more 3- and 4-year-olds moving on from child care facilities to pre-K — and with child care facilities entering the pre-K arena to help meet Blueprint goals — some stakeholders are concerned that there might not be enough providers (or seats) for natal-3-year-old child care.The Conduit Street Podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple, Google, and anywhere else you get your podcasts. Episodes are also available on MACo's Conduit Street blog.Useful LinksPrevious Conduit Street Coverage: The Looming “Child Care Cliff” – Is Maryland Close to the Edge?Learn more about MACo's Summer Conference: Attendee Registration Pricing Attendee Online Registration Exhibitor Details & Pricing Exhibitor Registration Sponsorship Opportunities Tech Expo Details Golf Tournament Details Discounted Hotel Room Rates 2022 Conference Photos Conduit Street Blog Coverage #MACoCon on Twitter Questions?  Contact Virginia White 

Now, Tom is joined by Shamiah T. Kerney, the Chief Recovery Officer in the Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs, an office set-up by Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott to oversee the distribution of the $641 million dollars of funds allocated for the city from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). President Biden signed the ARPA measure into law in March of 2021, with the aim of assisting communities across the nation in their ongoing recovery from the dislocations caused by the COVID pandemic. The city's Office of Recovery Programs was established in July of that year. The first announcements about which agencies and organizations would be receiving the funds were made in the fall. The city has until the end of next year to finish designating who gets the ARPA money, and until 2026 to have spent it.Shemiah Kerney joinsTom in Studio A to discuss the Office of Recovery Programs' important work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This interview with Heartspace Kids' Executive Director, Dina Mark, was recorded on March 20, 2023. In this episode we talk about how Heartspace Kids came to exist, the importance of focusing on youth mental health, and how American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding has helped Heartspace Kids grow. If you want to get involved with Heartspace Kids, you can learn more by visiting their website at https://heartspace-kids.org/. If you are interested in more stories about organizations and projects in the community that are putting ARPA grant funding to good use, please visit https://admin.elpasoco.com/el-paso-county-arpa-stories/ and stay tuned to future episodes of this podcast.

Boy, we had a time this season! And just like that, we're on our last episode of season three. We got to catch up with Nina Idemudia, AICP, before she presented several sessions at the American Planning Association (APA) National Planning Conference that took place April 1-4, 2023. Nina inspired Nimo and Jas in their planning careers long before this episode. She currently serves as the Chicago Recovery Plan Director for the City of Chicago's Department of Planning and Development. She started her career as a planner for the City of Los Angeles with a purpose and passion for how the built environment impacts communities. In addition to multiple awards from APA, Nina was recently elected the first Black President of the Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association. She is also a board member of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. Press play to hear: Reflections on Nina's career journey and education experience, and local planning differences by region Lessons Learned from COVID-19 Recovery and resilience planningPlanning “hot takes” in 45 seconds or lessYou can learn from the Chicago Recovery Plan Team at the virtual APA conference on April 27, presenting on using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for equitable outcomes. Follow Nina on IG @aplannerwithapurpose.Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @the4degreespod.Or send us an email to connect with us!

This interview with Forge Evolution's Chief Executive Officer, Morgan Mote, was recorded on March 1, 2023. In this episode we talk about the way Forge Evolution operates, the youth programs they manage, and how American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding aids their efforts. If you want to get involved with Forge Evolution, you can learn more by visiting their website at https://forgeevolution.org/. If you are interested in more stories about organizations and projects in the community that are putting ARPA grant funding to good use, please visit https://admin.elpasoco.com/el-paso-county-arpa-stories/ and stay tuned to future episodes of this podcast.

This interview with Crossroads' Turning Points' Chief Innovation Officer, Dr. Rob Archuleta, and Clinical Supervisor of El Paso County Services, Alice Kramer, was recorded on February 22, 2023. In this episode we discuss how Crossroads' Turning Points identifies the needs of their patrons, the various programs they offer, and how American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding aids their efforts. If you want to get involved with Crossroads' Turning Points, you can learn more by visiting their website at https://www.crossroadstp.org/. If you are interested in more stories about organizations and projects in the community that are putting ARPA grant funding to good use, please visit https://admin.elpasoco.com/el-paso-county-arpa-stories/ and stay tuned to future episodes of this podcast.

This interview with Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention Partnership's Executive Director, Cass Walton, was recorded on February 27, 2023. In this episode we discuss how Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention Partnership collaborates with the community, the various programs they offer, and how American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding aids their efforts. If you want to get involved with Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention Partnership, you can learn more by visiting their website at https://www.pikespeaksuicideprevention.org/. If you are interested in more stories about organizations and projects in the community that are putting ARPA grant funding to good use, please visit https://admin.elpasoco.com/el-paso-county-arpa-stories/ and stay tuned to future episodes of this podcast.

On Feb. 22, Barnstable County announced the allocation of $11.4 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to address housing challenges throughout the region. According to county ARPA Manager Kara Hughes, the funding will support projects in three areas: sheltering and medical respite, affordable housing and workforce housing.

In 2021, the State Historical Society of Missouri was awarded an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant through the National Endowment for the Humanities and Missouri Humanities for a project titled “African American Heritage in the Ozarks.” Over fifteen months, staff at SHSMO identified and compiled an extensive list of primary and secondary sources related to African American life in the region, provided public programming in numerous Ozarks communities, developed physical and digital exhibits, and conducted more than two dozen oral histories preserving the voices and memories of the people who call, or have called, the Ozarks home. To begin the second half of Season 5 and the new series “African American Heritage in the Ozarks,” host Sean Rost introduces listeners to the some of the oral history interviewees and the key themes of Ozarks history that emerged over the course of the project. For more information on the Emancipation Day in the Missouri Ozarks interactive map discussed in the episode, please visit: https://shsmo.org/interactives/emancipation-day-ozarks 

This week's interview featured the Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at UCCS, Dr. Judith Scott; the President of Aponi Partners, Penny Whitney; and the Executive Director at Liberty Heights, Alina Solarzano. This interview was recorded on January 13, 2023. In this episode we discuss UCCS's JAWS Program and how American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding aids their efforts. If you want to learn more about the JAWS Program, you can visit their website at https://johnsonbethel.uccs.edu/jumpstart-aging-workforce-solutions-jaws. You can also contact our guests using their email addresses: Dr. Judith Scott - jmarti28@uccs.edu Penny Whitney - pennywhitney@msn.com Alina Solarzano - asolorzano@seniorlifestyle.com If you are interested in more stories about organizations and projects in the community that are putting ARPA grant funding to good use, please visit https://admin.elpasoco.com/el-paso-county-arpa-stories/ and stay tuned to future episodes of this podcast.

This interview with UCCS's Director of Community Training and Empowerment, Nicole Weis, was recorded on January 10, 2023. In this episode we discuss UCCS's GRIT Program and how American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding aids their efforts. If you want to get involved with the GRIT Program, you can learn more by visiting their website at https://grit.uccs.edu/. If you are interested in more stories about organizations and projects in the community that are putting ARPA grant funding to good use, please visit https://admin.elpasoco.com/el-paso-county-arpa-stories/ and stay tuned to future episodes of this podcast.

Madera Community Hospital's financial woes and imminent closure have put pressure on the county to step in in an attempt to save the region's lone hospital. One option being considered by the Madera County Board of Supervisors is to throw $7 million of its remaining $14.7 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding at the problem.  - Listeners Comment See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This interview with CASA of the Pikes Peak Region's Executive Director, Angela Rose, was recorded on January 4, 2023. In this episode we discuss the valuable work that CASA is a part of, how they support their staff through the difficult tasks they perform, and how American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding aids their efforts. If you want to get involved with CASA, you can learn more by visiting their website at https://www.casappr.org/. If you are interested in more stories about organizations and projects in the community that are putting ARPA grant funding to good use, please visit https://admin.elpasoco.com/el-paso-county-arpa-stories/ and stay tuned to future episodes of this podcast.

This interview with Careers in Construction Colorado's Executive Director, Glenn Hard, and Operations Manager, Marlo Asher, was recorded on December 15, 2022. In this episode we discuss the benefits on alternative pathways for high school students post-graduation, the value of experience in the construction industry, and how American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding from El Paso County is making a difference for the organization. If you want to get involved with Careers in Construction Colorado, you can learn more by visiting their website at https://ciccolorado.org/. If you are interested in more stories about organizations and projects in the community that are putting ARPA grant funding to good use, please visit https://admin.elpasoco.com/el-paso-county-arpa-stories/ and stay tuned to future episodes of this podcast.

3. Public Comment 4. Update on the Community Preservation Committee and funding requests with Rob Levash, Chair 5. Feb Special Town Meeting date, timeline and warrant articles a. School Building Committee update and discussion of warrant article(s) related to a potential school project and/or purchase of the Fontbonne Convent b. Warrant Article to change Treasurer/Collector position from elected to appointed c. Special Town Meeting date: 2/13 or 2/27 6. - Appraisal services for the Fontbonne Convent, authorize Town Administrator to sign contract with selected appraiser, and submit request for a Reserve Fund Transfer to the Warrant Committee 7. Residential Outdoor Lighting Bylaw/Warrant Article 8. - Contract Amendment with Bohler Engineering MA LLC for Surveying, Wetlands Delineation, and Conceptual Sketch Plans for 40 Highland Street 9. - Extension for the Local Historic District Study Committee and Reappointment of Members a. Local Historic District Study Committee re-appointments: i. Larry Lawfer ii. Ryan McClain iii. William S. Mullen iv. Mallory Walsh 10. - MassDOT Response to Town of Milton Letter regarding proposed project at Route 28 (Randolph Avenue) & Chickatawbut Road 11. - Authorize the Town Administrator to submit an application and execute agreements for grant and loan assistance for the Lead Service Line Inventory and Replacement Program 12. - Equity and Justice for All Advisory Committee Report Mailing to Town Meeting Members a. Authorize drafting of transmittal letter for distribution of the report b. Request that the Town Moderator provide the Equity and Justice for All Committee time at the February Special Town Meeting to make a Presentation on the Report 13. - Select Board Finance Committee Report: a. FY2024 Budget update, outlook, and guidance b. FY23 close out and Free Cash timeline c. American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding status and projects d. February 2023 bond issuance and debt service, future borrowings and impact to debt service e. Financial Policies: OPEB Policy First Reading f. – FY24 Departmental Budget requests 14. Select Board Retreat a. : Strategic Planning Process 15. Committee Appointments a. Select Board Committee - Review Process of Volunteer Appointments to Boards & Committees 16. - Select Board meeting format: in person/hybrid or remote 17. Meeting Minutes – 11/1, 11/4, 11/15 18. Town Administrator's Report 19. Chair's Report a. Topics that the Chair did not reasonably anticipate would be discussed 20. Public Comment Response 21. Future Meeting Dates: Tuesday, January 3, 2023, Tuesday, January 10, 2023 (Meeting of the Governor Stoughton Trustees), Tuesday, January 17, 2023, Tuesday, February 7, 2023 22. - Memorandum of Agreement with the Milton Library Association, July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2025 23. Executive Session- To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining a. Milton Library Association b. Milton Clerical Unit of the Southeastern Public Employees Association c. Milton Professional Management Association d. Milton Public Employee Association e. Milton Firefighters, Local 1116 f. Milton Police Association g. Milton Superior Officers 24. Executive Session - To consider the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property located at 930 Brook Road (Fontbonne Convent) Select Board as Trustees of the Governor Stoughton Trust 2. Govr Stoughton Trust Financials 3. Grant Request from the Milton Residents Fund for Calendar Year 2023 4. Gov Stoughton Trustees meeting on January 10, 2023: agenda items and goals

This interview with Homeward Pikes Peak's Executive Director, Beth Roalstad, was recorded on December 12, 2022. In this episode we discuss a number of programs run by Homeward Pikes Peak, including the soon-to-be-opened Bloom House. This new program was made possible, thanks to grant funding from El Paso County via the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). If you want to get involved with Homeward Pikes Peak, or are someone seeking assistance, you can learn more by visiting their website at https://homewardpp.org/. If you are interested in more stories about organizations and projects in the community that are putting America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding to good use, please visit https://admin.elpasoco.com/el-paso-county-arpa-stories/ and stay tuned to future episodes of this podcast.

After last month's announcement that the Atlanta Braves will soon become their own publicly traded company, team officials were quick to say little will change, baseball-wise. “From our perspective, from a Braves' team perspective, it's business as usual,” President and CEO Derek Schiller told investors at a November 17 meeting. Braves Chairman Terry McGuirk echoed that sentiment in a letter to workers for the Braves and the Battery Atlanta. But business-wise, the Braves' financial separation from owner Liberty Media could have significant implications down the road. The Braves are currently traded as a “tracking stock” — a subset of Liberty Media that's still tied to the firm's overall performance, but represents one of its subsidiaries. Pending approval by shareholders and Major League Baseball, the Braves will become a fully separate entity within the next six to eight months, executives have said. Fans and financiers alike will then be able to purchase a stake in the team. Liberty CEO Greg Maffei has said repeatedly the impetus for the spinoff comes from a desire to showcase the Braves' value independent of Liberty as a whole. The stock will represent not only the team and its assets, but the Battery Atlanta and the Braves Development Company, the latter of which manages the team's real estate holdings. The announcement itself came two weeks after Breach Inlet Capital, a South Carolina-based investment firm that counts itself among the Braves' top 25 shareholders, called for a spinoff of the stock. In an open letter to Liberty's board, the firm argued the Braves' tracking stock was trading at about 60% less than its true value. The letter pointed to the Braves' continued success, and argued the team is relatively undervalued compared to other major sports franchises. Breach Inlet Capital founder Chris Colvin speculated the Braves' undervaluation was due to Liberty's “confusing and convoluted structure,” referring to Liberty's ownership of Formula 1 racing, Sirius XM, and other media empires. In other words, the Braves' true value isn't apparent because it's tied up in Liberty's many and varied financial holdings. Mount Paran Christian School announced that Peter Hill is the new Head of Middle School, beginning in the 2023-2024 academic year. Hill comes to MPCS from Catholic Memorial School in Boston, Massachusetts, where he is a member of the Academic Leadership Team, a history teacher and varsity head soccer coach. With vast independent school experience, he has taught a variety of history courses, including AP Comparative Politics, where his students over the years have earned an astounding 94% pass rate. He has served as the International Student Coordinator, developed and implemented the faculty peer mentoring program, and advised and mentored faculty to better enable bilingual students using translanguaging pedagogy. Prior to Hill's time at Catholic Memorial, he taught at Marianapolis Preparatory School in Connecticut and St. Paul's School in New Hampshire. He holds a bachelor's degree in history from Dartmouth College and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Boston College. For Kim McCoy, head of the Cobb District Attorney's victim and witness office, the long road toward the county getting its own family advocacy center began 25 years ago. Way back in 1997, she and Jason Saliba, now Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney, toured San Diego's own center for victims and thought, “We've got to have this in Cobb County.” The center isn't quite open for business — District Attorney Flynn Broady said he expects it to open in March or April of 2023. But when it does, the location on Fairground Street will be a hub for victims and survivors of abuse to get help and resources under a single roof. The center was partially funded with a $400,000 grant from the state, and will be the first of its kind to open in Georgia. When family advocacy centers are implemented in communities, there's a corresponding reduction in domestic violence homicides, a reduction in childhood trauma, and with that, better outcomes for families. As part of that mission, the DA's office is partnering with several of Cobb's well-established nonprofits such as LiveSAFE Resources, the Center for Family Resources, and SafePath Children's Advocacy Center. Along with staff from the county and its public safety and prosecutorial partners, those nonprofits and community groups will have representatives on-site as well. Broady told the MDJ his office is working on setting up a 501(c)(3) nonprofit so that community members and businesses can support the center going forward.  Walton's Jeremy Hecklinski wasted little time turning a breakout junior season into finding a place to play his college football. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound quarterback committed to Wake Forest on Wednesday, making his announcement on social media. Hecklinski is coming off a season in which he threw 3,520 yards, 37 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, while also running for five scores. Hecklinski played his best in arguably the biggest game of the season, in which he led Walton to an upset of Buford in the second round of the Class AAAAAAA state playoffs. In that game, he threw for 315 yards and two touchdowns in beating the Wolves — a consensus top-10 team nationally — on their home field. Hecklinski chose Wake Forest over offers from Central Florida, Georgia Southern and Eastern Kentucky. His recruiting was just starting to heat up, as it had been reported that Georgia, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Duke and Florida State had become interested. Hecklinski was expected to announce his commitment next spring, but he told SI.com that everything just felt right this week.   The City Council Wednesday night unanimously approved allocating the the majority of the city's remaining federal COVID-19 relief funds for a pair of new parks. Marietta received roughly $11 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and had already allocated portions of it for a new public safety training center, replacing a water tower, affordable housing, wellness initiatives for public safety employees, repairs to a fire station and the Cobb Veterans Memorial. The city has broad discretion over the use of the ARPA funds. Wednesday's vote puts $1 million of the remaining funds toward capping a 57-acre landfill on Merritt Road, behind Lockheed Elementary, to build a new city park. Another $2 million will be offered to Cobb County for 20 acres of park land at Anderson and Burnt Hickory roads, west of Kennesaw Mountain. In October, Marietta Mayor Steve “Thunder” Tumlin recommended the city consider purchasing the land off Burnt Hickory Road from the county, which includes Schmidt Pond, a catch-and-release fishing site. Marietta would then turn the land into a city park. At the council's committee meetings on November 29, Tumlin again brought up the prospect that a future attempt to incorporate a city of Lost Mountain in west Cobb could mean Cobb would be forced to sell the Anderson Road land at a far cheaper price. Under state law, county parkland can be purchased by new cities at $100 per acre. The proposal for a city of Lost Mountain was rejected by voters in May, along with proposals for cities of East Cobb and Vinings. Tumlin said in November the county could be motivated to sell the land to Marietta “because cityhood might raise its beautiful head again.” Should the county reject Marietta's offer, the $2 million would return to the city's COVID relief fund.   It may have been a cloudy day, but that didn't dampen the spirits at the 9th Annual Thanksgiving Classic hosted by the Marietta Country Club. After a Chick-fil-A breakfast, the golfers were cheered on with pompoms and great enthusiasm from the YELLS ( which stands for Youth Empowerment thru Learning, Leading and Serving) Inc. kids at the shotgun start. The day-long event saw a record number of 144 golfers participating. Each year the tournament committee selects a recipient from the Cobb County area. To be eligible, the non-profit must benefit and impact children's lives. This year the selected beneficiary was YELLS. Previous recipients include such worthy organizations as the Center for Children and Young Adults, Marietta Police Athletic League, KSU CARE, Marietta Student Life Center, Devereux Center, Wellstar Cancer Center and Hospice Angel Fund. Over the past, nine years the event raised over $850,000. The goal for next year is to surpass $1 million in donations. With the generosity of the players and sponsors, the Marietta Country Club was able to make a huge impact on YELLS Inc. with the presentation of a $150,000 check. YELLS empowers youth to rise as active, healthy and productive servant-leaders within their communities. YELLS is a 501(c)3 non-profit youth development organization based in the Franklin Gateway community of Marietta. #CobbCounty #Georgia #LocalNews      -            -            -            -            -            The Marietta Daily Journal Podcast is local news for Marietta, Kennesaw, Smyrna, and all of Cobb County.             Subscribe today, so you don't miss an episode! MDJOnline            Register Here for your essential digital news.            https://www.chattahoocheetech.edu/  https://cuofga.org/ https://www.esogrepair.com/ https://www.drakerealty.com/           Find additional episodes of the MDJ Podcast here.             This Podcast was produced and published for the Marietta Daily Journal and MDJ Online by BG Ad Group   For more information be sure to visit https://www.bgpodcastnetwork.com        See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This interview with The Salvation Army's El Paso County Coordinator, Captain Doug Hanson, was recorded on December 8, 2022. In this episode we discuss how The Salvation Army got their start, the benefits they have seen from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding from El Paso County, and why they become a top-of-mind organization around the holidays. If you want to get involved with The Salvation Army, or are someone seeking assistance, you can learn more by visiting their website at https://coloradosprings.salvationarmy.org/. If you are interested in more stories about organizations and projects in the community that are putting America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding to good use, please visit https://admin.elpasoco.com/el-paso-county-arpa-stories/ and stay tuned to future episodes of this podcast.

Today's episode includes a conversation with City Councilor Kit Collins about the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and its uses in Medford.  More information about ARPA in Medford can be found here: https://medfordma.org/arpa/ and for more general ARPA information, here: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/SLFRP-Quick-Reference-Guide-FINAL-508a.pdf The slides that Councilor Collins references can be found here: https://medfordma.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Community-Meeting-ARPA-Update-Presentation.pdf Councilor Collins mentioned her involvement in the Solid Waste Task Force which will meet on November 29th and links can be found here: https://medfordma.org/mayor2/city-events/ We hope you can check out the Chevalier Theatre Organ Society's event on December 4th at 3pm at the Chevalier Theatre.  This small  group of volunteers in that organization has been working for 20 YEARS raising funds, restoring and installing a 1922 Wurlitzer Pipe Theatre Pipe Organ in Chevalier. Come see its being played! Thanks so much for listening to today's episode. You can reach out to us by email at medfordpod@gmail.com  or follow is on instagram @medfordpod or Facebook at MedfordBytes Podcast. Please take a moment to rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Thanks so much for listening.

This interview with NAMI's Director of Strategy and Operations, Kirk Woundy, was recorded on November 16, 2022. In this episode we discuss NAMI's efforts within the El Paso County community, the delicate nature of helping those that they serve, and how the organization is putting American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding from El Paso County to good use. If you want to get involved with NAMI, or are someone seeking assistance, you can learn more by visiting their website at https://www.namicoloradosprings.org/. If you are interested in more stories about organizations and projects in the community that are putting America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding to good use, please visit https://admin.elpasoco.com/el-paso-county-arpa-stories/ and stay tuned to future episodes of this podcast.

On this episode, we sit down with Taylor Mazdra, Senior Project Manager with Federal Initiatives, to discuss the upcoming Small Business Grant Program. This $10 million program is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and is intended to help Missouri small businesses recover from the financial struggles of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This interview with Pikes Peak United Way's Chief Operating Officer, Heather Steinman, was recorded on October 19, 2022. In this episode we discuss United Way's efforts within the El Paso County community, how they work together with various non-profit agencies, and how the new Family Success Center could not have happened without American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding from El Paso County. If you want to get involved with Pikes Peak United Way, or are someone seeking assistance, you can learn more by visiting their website at https://www.ppunitedway.org/. If you are interested in more stories about organizations in the community that were awarded funding by El Paso County via ARPA grants, stay tuned in for future episodes of this podcast.

This interview with Catholic Charities' Behavioral Health Specialist, Allie Warner Orozco, was recorded on September 27, 2022. In this episode we discuss Catholic Charities' purpose within the community, how they work together with various non-profit agencies, and how beneficial it was for the organization to receive American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding from El Paso County. If you want to get involved with Catholic Charities, or are someone seeking assistance, you can learn more by visiting their website at https://www.ccharitiescc.org/. If you are interested in more stories about organizations in the community that were awarded funding by El Paso County via ARPA grants, stay tuned in for future episodes of this podcast.

This interview with Solid Rock Community Development Center's Executive Director, Ben Anderson, was recorded on August 16, 2022. In this episode we discuss Solid Rock's purpose within the community, what their goals are for those they serve, and how beneficial it was for the organization to receive American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding from El Paso County. If you want to get involved with Solid Rock, or are someone seeking assistance, you can learn more by visiting their website at www.solidrockcdc.com. If you are interested in more stories about organizations in the community that were awarded funding by El Paso County via ARPA grants, stay tuned in for future episodes of this podcast.

This interview with Springs Rescue Mission's Chief Development Officer, Travis Williams, was recorded on August 26, 2022. In this episode we discuss Springs Rescue Mission's purpose within the community, what their goals are for those they serve, and how beneficial it was for the organization to receive American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding from El Paso County. If you want to get involved with Springs Rescue Mission, or are someone seeking assistance, you can learn more by visiting their website at www.springsrescuemission.org. If you are interested in more stories about organizations in the community that were awarded funding by El Paso County via ARPA grants, stay tuned in for future episodes of this podcast.

ARPA update! Tune in to hear from our guest Casey Burns from the Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester as she talks upcoming ARPA application deadlines, submission resources, and community involvement in the decision making process. Casey also provides insight about the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) and how it can impact funding strategies and priorities throughout the City.There is $10M available through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for Community Projects and Programs. Applications are due on September 30th. Check the City's site for more information and join the Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester for free workshops with grant writers to support you in the application process. Public Hearing is a series-based podcast and radio show from Action! by Design about Worcester, MA and designing sustainable and thriving cities; ones that are rooted in equity, Justice, and Joy. Follow our new Twitter account at @PublicHearingMA!  Tune in Wednesdays at 6pm on WICN 90.5FM, Worcester's only NPR affiliate station. Not in the Worcester area? No worries, you can listen live at WICN.org.

This interview with Pikes Peak Business & Education Alliance's (PPBEA) Director, Bob Gemignani, was recorded on August 23, 2022. In this episode we discuss the PPBEA's mission within the community, how their programs benefit students and businesses alike, and how beneficial it was for the organization to receive American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding from El Paso County. If you want to get involved with the PPBEA, you can learn more by visiting their website at www.ppbea.org. If you are interested in more stories about organizations in the community that were awarded funding by El Paso County via ARPA grants, stay tuned in for future episodes of this podcast.

This interview with Care and Share's President and CEO, Nate Springer, was recorded on August 15, 2022. In this episode we discuss Care and Share's programs, what it means for them to be a pillar within the community, and how beneficial it was for the organization to receive American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding from El Paso County. If you want to get involved with Care and Share, or are someone seeking assistance, you can learn more by visiting their website at www.careandshare.org. If you are interested in more stories about organizations in the community that were awarded funding by El Paso County via ARPA grants, stay tuned in for future episodes of this podcast.

Houston based life and wellness coach, Lindsay Locke, has made it her goal to inspire others to improve their quality of life by focusing on their personal growth and wellness. As the owner of LockedIn Life & Wellness Coaching, Locke feels it is her unique purpose to share her experience overcoming the tragic loss of her eldest child, Houston R&B Princess JaeRene, who was killed instantly in a drunk driving incident in April of last year, to help others prevail. On Saturday, Aug. 27th, Locke will be celebrating the launch of her new self-help book “Self Reflection; A Journey To A Better You” with a Self-love Book Signing Brunch at the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum. The brunch will include Fitness, Wellness, and Self-Care experts sharing tips on self-help, vendors, lite bites, and of course words from Locke about her self-help journey. The Houston Minority Supplier Development Council (HMSDC) proudly announces its upcoming Minority Business EXPO set for this September 28th (day 1) and 29th (day 2). Ingrid Robinson, president of HMSDC, tells us about this year's EXPO, which is intentionally titled EXPONENTIAL GROWTH, to describe our path forward as we push out of the pandemic into a new sense of normalcy. It is about making business connections, sharing industry insights, and learning about new opportunities to achieve exponential growth through the energy transition and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The 2022 EXPO is a “hybrid” format with Day 1 activities being held in person at Woodside Towers,1500 Post Oak Blvd, Houston, TX and Day 2 being held via HMSDC's interactive virtual platform.

Senator Julian Cyr serves in the Massachusetts Senate representing Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. First elected to the State Senate on November 8, 2016, Julian is now serving in his second term and is the youngest senator in the 40-member body. And he's been a champion for arts and culture here on Cape Cod.  In this episode, we speak with the Senator about how the arts led him to a career in politics as well as how the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod's Creative Exchange is being bolstered thanks to $400,000 in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).  Senator Julian Cyr was instrumental in securing the federal dollars to support the Cape's creative economy, filing an amendment to the Legislature's $4 billion ARPA and surplus tax revenue spending bill, which Governor Charlie Baker signed into law in December 2021.  “These are once-in-a-generation funds that are meant to help us rebuild and repair and build more resilient communities,” Senator Cyr said. “When you look at what powers Cape Cod and the Islands' economy, it is not solely tourism and our gorgeous beaches and natural beauty. The fabric of our community is its creativity and innovation.”

In March 2021, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the massive federal stimulus intended to provide economic relief from the pandemic. Out of this explosion of borrowed money, the law directed huge sums of money to state and local government. Not only did this bill have a direct impact on our current recession, ITR Foundation's Sarah Curry has discovered that the funds for local government may have been largely unnecessary in the first place. So where did all of the money go? You can read the full ITR Foundation report here: https://itrfoundation.org/where-did-iowas-local-covid-relief-funds-go/

June 14, 2022 — The Board of Supervisors has closed its budget hearings and will formally ratify the final county budget on June 21. The total county budget is over $355.8 million, with an operating budget of over $29.6 million per month, according to documents attached to the June 7 agenda. Talk of closing the county museum was notably absent from the list of recommendations. Several organizations asked the board to consider funding them from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), including Meghan Barber-Allende, the Executive Director of the Community Foundation, who asked for $300,000 for hunger relief and another $200,000 for non-profits that were unable to hold fundraisers during covid. “We can make a difference, and we can feed our communities, especially those that are extremely vulnerable,” she told the Board. “I think it's just very, very hard to think about how families and individuals and seniors are going to survive this, if we don't figure out how to provide some support.” Supervisor Ted Williams asked acting deputy CEO Sarah Pierce if it would be possible to fulfill the request. “As we go through these presentations, what would the funding source be?” he asked. “What is the pot of money we have to divide up? Because I can already tell you, I support all of these projects. How do we pay for it?” Pierce told him county staff was keeping track of requests for ARPA funding, but that they were following earlier Board direction to use the funds for county core services first. The health plan deficit, even with an infusion of $4.6 million from the ARPA funds, is projected to be over $3 million by the end of the calendar year. And cannabis tax projections are $1.5 million, down from $6.1 million last year. Supervisor Ted Williams was chagrined. “I see that we had $6.8 million that we didn't collect on cannabis,” he noted. “We're not going to collect that, aren't we?” Interim CEO Darcie Antle confirmed his assessment that, “that's just written off for this year.” Still, some petitioners were given some hope. Stephanie Garrabrant-Sierra, Mendocino County Resource Conservation District's new Executive Director, told the Board that, as a special district, her agency is “a government partner,” which is working to alleviate climate change. With the rising costs of gas and steel, she requested double the $45,000 the RCD typically receives. The Board directed her to Department of Transportation Director Howard Dashiell, to see if it's possible to provide more funding for the district under his allocation. Projected secure property tax for the next fiscal year is up to $41.8 million from $36.8 in May of this year, and projections for the transient occupancy tax are up to $8 million from $6.2 million actuals in May. Patrick Hickey, the field representative for SEIU Local 1021, insists that the budget is not as dire as presented. The county is currently in negotiations with all its labor unions. “Sales taxes are projected to be up by $700,000, transient occupancy taxes are projected to be up by $2 million, property taxes are projected to be up by $2 million as well,” he recited. “This doesn't sound like a county in trouble to me. But how well has the county done at projecting its revenues? Actually, they've underestimated Budget Unit 1000 every year.” This unit is for non-departmental revenue, derived primarily from property tax, sales tax, and ToT, or transient occupancy tax, also known as bed tax. The funds are usually used to make up the difference in expenditures and revenues by county departments that operate at a loss. Hickey went on to say that the county had underestimated Budget Unit 1000 by nearly $8 million in FY 2018/2019, $1.3 million in FY 2019/2020, and $9.4 million in FY 2020/2021. “I think you can see the pattern here,” he concluded. “The county is in the habit of overestimating expenses and underestimating revenues.” Antle provided some more information about the revenue projection, saying, “In the past, the revenue projection has come from the auditor-controller's office, and as you know, we had a change in that position this year. Those numbers weren't provided to us by the auditor-controller, so the fiscal team made the projection for this coming year of 2022/2023.” She added that the team had eventually received the report from the auditor-controller, but not until May 20, which wasn't timely enough for them to use it when the budget process started at the beginning of March. She told the Board that the only difference between revenue projections by the fiscal team and the auditor-controller is that “ours is $700,000 higher.” Hickey also suggested that the county stop budgeting for the nearly 400 positions that it can't fill, which he believes would free up money to pay more to existing staff. The Board agreed to a discussion with department heads to find out if they are still actively recruiting for positions that are funded, but which have been vacant for years. The Board also directed the auditor-controller to track where the cannabis tax that has been collected has gone. In 2016, county voters approved AI, a cannabis business tax of no more than ten percent of gross receipts for cultivation and distribution. The general tax measure was accompanied by AJ, an advisory measure that asked voters if they wanted a majority of the taxes generated by AI to be used for enforcement, mental health, county road repair, and fire and emergency medical services. The destination of the money has not been diligently tracked. AI was a general tax, which means it only needed a simple majority to pass, and the revenue it generated went into the general fund. Advisory measures are not legally binding. The budget also includes direction to the auditor-controller to encumber the unspent PG&E settlement money for its designated projects; and to create one new budget unit within the general fund with $320,000 in it for parks; and another to track grants for the Air Quality Management District. Acting auditor-controller Chamise Cubbison provided some analysis. She said she had given the CEO's fiscal team an updated projection using her own calculations, and had tried to have a conversation with them, but “I got the sense that they didn't want to change the projection, because that was what they had based the initial net county cost assignments on. So I understand that…I'm most frustrated by the fact that the auditor-controller budget is the budget unit that appears to be taking the largest hit, at least from the CEO adjustments. And there's been many references today to direct the auditor, direct the auditor, direct the auditor to do things. But I do need to point out the fact that the auditor-controller's budget unit cannot be underfunded to the tune of more than $340,000 and expect that I'm going to be successful and that my team is going to be successful. The auditor controller's office is a key part to the property tax and the ToT distribution and collections processes, along with the special districts…we do put on the tax roll and distribute over $160 million to the county, to the cities, to the special districts, and the schools. So under the new consolidated office, I really would hope that the Board would fully fund the auditor-controller's proposed budget, with the understanding that in order to be successful, we need to be fully staffed and we need to have the resources that I think are appropriate. So I would hope that the Board would consider possibly revising the ToT projection by enough to possibly cover the auditor-controller's budget, or direct the ARPA funds be allocated to bring positions up to pre-covid, or that that ARPA fund be used somewhere else in the county to free up additional general fund to help support the auditor's office budget.” Antle said part of the one-time $1.7 million of ARPA money that was set aside to bring up staffing to pre-covid levels could be used to fund Cubbison's office.

The state, local and education or SLED market took a hit in 2020 as COVID shutdowns forced governments to shift into remote or hybrid operations. But federal funding is helping the market rebound. And money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) means opportunities for businesses to break into or expand their reach in SLED government contracting. So, what industries look to benefit most from ARPA? And what can your business do to capitalize on growing opportunities in the SLED market? Chris Dixon is Senior Manager of SLED Market Analysis at Deltek, the leading global provider of software solutions for project-based work. Chris' team conducts targeted research aimed at shedding light on the SLED market across multiple industries. On this episode of the RFP Success Show, Chris joins me to share his SLED market forecast, describing why public sector markets are counter cyclical and how federal COVID relief funding facilitated the strong recovery we're seeing right now. Chris explores opportunities provided by ARPA, explaining why cloud and cyber solutions are dominating the SLED market right now and what's driving growth in the architecture and engineering and operations and maintenance space. Listen in for Chris' advice on selling commercial solutions in the public sector and learn how to leverage GovWin's database of opportunities to win state, local government and education contracts for your business! Key Takeaways Deltek's role as the leading global provider of software solutions for project-based work How to develop business strategy using GovWin's database of opportunities The 12 industries Chris' team tracks for trends in the SLED market Why the public sector is usually up when commercial markets are down How federal aid buoyed the SLED market and prepared it for the strong recovery we're seeing right now ARPA's focus on serving communities disproportionately impacted by COVID Why there's lag time before ARPA funding will be available (and how to best use that time) What mid-market companies need to know about the SLED market Why cloud and cyber solutions are dominating the SLED market right now What's driving the biggest growth industries in the SLED market at present (e.g.: architecture and engineering, operations and maintenance) The likelihood that governments will maintain e-procurement systems in a post-pandemic world Chris' advice on selling solutions built for the commercial market in the public sector  Connect with Chris Chris on LinkedIn GovWin GovWin on Twitter Deltek on Twitter Deltek on LinkedIn Deltek Email chrisdixon@deltek.com Connect with Lisa  Lisa's Website Lisa on Twitter Lisa on Facebook Lisa on LinkedIn The RFP Success Company on YouTube The RFP Success Company on LinkedIn Subscribe on iTunes Email podcast@rfpsuccess.com  Resources National Association of State CIOs Office of Justice Programs CARES Act American Rescue Plan Act GovWin's Q1 2022 State and Local Procurement Snapshot Public Technology Institute Book a Call with the RFP Success Company Dare to Be Influential: Maximizing Your Positive Influence While Still Being True to You by Lisa Rehurek The RFP Success Book by Lisa Rehurek The RFP Success Institute

If you're responsible for managing and allocating federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), you know it's an incredible opportunity for communities — and also a massive burden for under-resourced procurement departments.Between the funding structure, the timelines, and the stringent reporting requirements attached to the money, there's a lot to juggle. And yet, our latest guests say there are plenty of worthwhile reasons to leverage ARPA funding.Joel Neaveill and Ken Hillebrand of the Louisville Metro Government have each played a key role in managing Louisville's $388 million in ARPA funding over the last year. In this previously recorded session, they sit down with Bonfire host Anthony Berry to share some firsthand advice and answer all your questions about ARPA, including:Understanding the funding and how it worksAssembling the right teamAccessing and managing the money effectivelyUsing ARPA funds to support strategic goalsPreparing for the great project floodMeeting compliance and reporting requirementsConnect with Joel and Ken on LinkedIn.You can find this interview, and many more, by subscribing to Inside Public Procurement on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or gobonfire.com/podcast.Listening on a desktop and can't see the links? Just search for Inside Public Procurement in your favorite podcast player.

If you're responsible for managing and allocating federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), you know it's an incredible opportunity for communities — and also a massive burden for under-resourced procurement departments. Between the funding structure, the timelines, and the stringent reporting requirements attached to the money, there's a lot to juggle. And yet, our latest guests say there are plenty of worthwhile reasons to leverage ARPA funding. Joel Neaveill and Ken Hillebrand of the Louisville Metro Government have each played a key role in managing Louisville's $388 million in ARPA funding over the last year. In this previously recorded session, they sit down with Bonfire host Anthony Berry to share some firsthand advice and answer all your questions about ARPA, including: Understanding the funding and how it works Assembling the right team Accessing and managing the money effectively Using ARPA funds to support strategic goals Preparing for the great project flood Meeting compliance and reporting requirements Connect with Joel and Ken on LinkedIn. You can find this interview, and many more, by subscribing to Inside Public Procurement on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or gobonfire.com/podcast. Listening on a desktop and can't see the links? Just search for Inside Public Procurement in your favorite podcast player.

Retirees often wonder how they are going to afford health insurance if they retire before the age of 65. Thankfully, many Americans qualify for healthcare subsidies through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). On this episode, I'm going to cover the five things you need to know about these subsidies and how you can become eligible for them. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... What are ACA tax credit subsidies?[1:24] They are available to many people whose net income is between 100%-400% of the Federal Poverty Level Exploring eligibility for ACA tax credit subsidies [2:17] How does the federal government determine the poverty line? [5:33] The logistics of signing up for healthcare through the Marketplace [6:53] How do ACA tax credit subsidies work? [9:35] What info do I need to get started? [11:32] How do I apply for an ACA tax credit subsidy [14:19] Reducing the cost of healthcare  The years before retirement can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. That's why retirement planning is an essential step! Set yourself up now so that life's third act is enjoyable and stress-free. One major stressor most soon-to-be retirees face is figuring out healthcare coverage. Especially, if it's not currently provided by an employer and they don't yet qualify for Medicare due to age. Never fear, because the Affordable Care Act (ACA) may be the way to go. The ACA, also known as “Obamacare”, provides subsidies to qualifying individuals and families to help make healthcare costs more affordable. This is a great option to gain health insurance at a reasonable cost until you reach age 65 and qualify for Medicare.  These subsidies are available to many people who qualify and the money is put towards significantly reducing your health insurance premium. In some cases, it can even make healthcare free! In 2020, it was estimated that 87% of the roughly 11 million people enrolled in the Healthcare Marketplace received a premium subsidy. If you don't qualify for Medicare and you haven't looked into this yet, what are you waiting for? Do I qualify? While the idea of affordable health insurance is appealing to everyone, some requirements need to be met in order to qualify. ACA tax credit subsidies work on a sliding scale that limits the amount you pay each month for health insurance premiums based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). Most people are eligible for these subsidies if they annually earn between 100% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. However, in March of 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) added further relief to those struggling to find affordable health insurance during the COVID pandemic. For 2021 and 2022, many retirees can take advantage of several ARPA provisions that will further reduce their healthcare costs. For example, no citizen or legally present non-citizen without access to other affordable healthcare options will pay more than 8.5% of income for a Marketplace Silver Plan. Additionally, individuals who earn 500% of the Federal Poverty level and don't have access to other affordable healthcare options can take advantage of cost-sharing reductions through low-cost Healthcare Marketplace plans. For more information on reducing your healthcare costs and qualifying for subsidies, listen to this episode! Resources Mentioned Access Health CT  HealthCare.gov Connect With Morrissey Wealth Management  www.MorrisseyWealthManagement.com/contact