HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM V_ARPA Review Criteria - Jan 2024
City Hall, 215 Church Avenue P.O. Box 1130 Oshkosh, WI 54903-1130 http://www.oshkoshwi.gov
GRANT FUNDS FOR NON-INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
USING AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) FUNDS
The City of Oshkosh has received approximately $20.5 million in funds under the American
Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The Oshkosh Common Council directed that approximately 25% of
these funds be allocated to non-profit entities and non-infrastructure purposes. To date, the
Council has allocated $2,275,480, leaving approximately $2,350,000 in remaining ARPA funds.
These funds must be committed no later than December 31, 2024. Although ARPA regulations
allow expenditures to continue until December 31, 2026, the City of Oshkosh will give preference
to projects that can have all funds expended through December 31, 2024.
The City of Oshkosh is hereby soliciting proposals from Oshkosh-based entities for eligible
projects and initiatives using the city’s allocation of ARPA funds. City staff has developed short-
term and long-term goals on how these funds are to be used. The short-term goals are primarily
geared towards addressing issues brought upon by the Covid pandemic and are compliant with
ARPA regulations, while the long-term goals have been developed by the City of Oshkosh
through various long-range plans developed and approved by the Common Council.
Consideration will also be given to applications that pursue goals in the City’s Sustainability or
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) plans, as well as address needs of underrepresented or
marginalized groups in the city. While these goals remain subject to consideration by the
Oshkosh Common Council, staff will take all of these goals into consideration while evaluating
proposals. Some relevant links to plans are at the bottom of this document.
Although the use of ARPA funds for operating purposes are not specifically prohibited, the
intent of the grant funds is to assist agencies with overcoming challenges brought upon by the
Covid pandemic, particularly as it relates to addressing long-term needs of a particular agency
or organization. Towards that end, priority will be given to requests that are focused on capital
or other non-operating needs. Operating funds may be considered if the purpose of the funds
is to bridge a funding gap that will be addressed in a long-term plan, and/or will leverage ARPA
funds with other revenue sources until the operating funds are no longer needed.
Agencies that may have previously applied to the city or another governmental entity for ARPA
funds are eligible to re-apply for these funds. The funding requests should be applied for as if
the application is new.
Applications will be evaluated on the basis of achieving specific objectives identified in the
application, as well as meeting the long-term and short-term goals identified by the city, as
follows:
Short Term Goals
• Help those with immediate needs
• Help those directly impacted by COVID-19
• Compliant with federal ARPA regulations
• Politically acceptable to the Council and Community
• Ability to leverage ARPA funds with other revenue sources
• Avoid duplication of effort with other agencies and avoid duplication of ARPA funds
Long Term Goals
• Strategic plan goals
• Long term visible impact
• Long-term benefit to individuals and community
• Long-term relief to those repaying ARPA funds in the future.
ARPA Funding Application
Applications are due to the City Manager’s Office no later than 4:30 PM on Friday, March 1,
2024. Applications may be submitted in electronic form or hard copy. Completed applications
and budget sheets can be submitted:
• Electronically to citymgr@oshkoshwi.gov; OR
• Mail to City Manager’s Office, 215 Church Ave – PO Box 1130, Oshkosh WI 54903-1130;
OR
• Place in City Hall dropbox
Links to Relevant Plans
• 2023-2024 City of Oshkosh Strategic Plan
• City of Oshkosh Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee Strategic Plan
• 2019 City of Oshkosh Sustainability Plan
• Other City of Oshkosh Long-Term Plans