City Council to vote on resolution outlining intent to award $25.2 million in ARPA funding

(COLUMBIA, MO)- The City of Columbia City Council will vote on a resolution at the Oct. 2 meeting that will outline the Council's intent to award $25.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. The Council meeting will be held in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 701 E. Broadway beginning at 7 p.m.

The City of Columbia received a total of $25.2 million in ARPA funds to address the public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The City Council is excited to announce its intention to allocate ARPA funds and begin the process of funding various projects that will have lasting impacts in Columbia," Mayor Barbara Buffaloe said. "Our community has played an integral role in helping decide which initiatives will receive ARPA funding. We want to thank everyone who provided feedback and participated in this process."

The first half of the funding is designated for:

• Homelessness
• Community violence
• Behavioral crisis care mental health services
• Workforce development

The second half of the funding will be allocated to priority areas identified by the community. A community-wide survey was conducted during the month of June 2022 to gather feedback. The survey data was accompanied by conversations collected via focus groups, which were conducted in the month of August, 2022. Council selected an additional five priority areas for funding consideration for the second half of the funding:

• Access to services
• Affordable housing
• Mental health access
• Homelessness
• Workforce development/support

Between January and April of 2023, staff published a series of requests for proposals for the above priority areas. An internal review team evaluated the letters of intent based on the following criteria: ARPA priority, demonstration of need, efficiency, equity impact, outcome measurement, financial sustainability, and strategic plan alignment. Ninety-one (91) letters of intent were submitted totaling $95,962,178. Proposals were scored and those who scored above average were invited to submit a full proposal. Fifty-one (51) full proposals were submitted totaling $31,593,304.86.

The full proposals were evaluated by a mayoral-appointed and council-approved ARPA committee.

"The City received an abundance of applications for ARPA funding, each one outlining a project or initiative that would benefit the residents of Columbia," Public Health and Human Services Director Stephanie Browning said. "The ARPA committee has worked diligently to select projects that most align with the desires of the community with the limited funding available. Although we could not fund every project due to the scope of funding requests, we feel these allocations will have great benefits in Columbia."

The following summarizes the funding recommendations by priority area:

• Access to services - $1,325,000
• Affordable housing - $8,600,000
• Community violence - $2,170,000
• Homelessness - $5,665,000
• Mental health - $3,000,000
• Workforce development - $2,449,961
• Workforce support - $1,324,663
• Capacity building - $750,000

Following Council approval of the resolution, City staff will begin coordinating with organizations receiving funds to develop agreements. The City has budgeted $750,000 to develop a capacity building program to support and grow the capacity of local community organizations as well as ARPA applicants.

The attachment includes the organizations and proposals Council intends to fund.

Attachments:

• Intended Use of ARPA Funds

City of Columbia Vision
Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.

City of Columbia Mission
To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.