Douglas County is accepting grant applications for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Monday, May 2.

Funds can be used for qualifying expenditures that occur between March 3, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2024. Projects should fall within one of these categories:

• Public health - Vaccination, testing, contact tracing, prevention in congregate settings, PPE, assistance to small businesses, non-profits and impacted industries, community violence interventions, mental health and substance use services and other public health services.
• Negative Economic Impacts - Household assistance, unemployment assistance, healthy childhood environments, long-term housing security, housing support, social determinants of health, medical facilities for disproportionately impacted communities, strong healthy communities, addressing educational disparities, assistance to small businesses, assistance to non-profits and aid to impacted industries.

The application is on the county’s website: http://dgcoks.org/applicationforarpa

Douglas County has been allocated $23.7 million in ARPA funding. County Commissioners have obligated $2.3 million for emergency purchases of which approximately $480,000 has been requested and approved. Funding has been allocated for items such as rent and utility assistance, a homelessness needs assessment and COVID testing.

If you have questions about the ARPA application, please contact Finance Manager Brooke Sauer at bsauer@dgcoks.gov or 785-330-2863, Ext. 5863.