American Recovery Act -The CDBG-R Recipients

THE CDBG-R SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT

ENSURING RESPONSIBLE SPENDING OF RECOVERY ACT FUNDS

Funding available under the Recovery Act has clear purposes – to stimulate the economy through measures that modernize the Nation’s infrastructure, improve energy efficiency, and expand educational opportunities and access to health care. HUD strongly urges grantees to use CDBG-R funds for hard development costs associated with infrastructure activities that provide basic services to residents or activities that promote energy efficiency and conservation through rehabilitation or retrofitting of existing buildings. While the full range of CDBG activities is available to grantees, the Department strongly suggests that grantees incorporate consideration of the public perception of the intent of the Recovery Act in identifying and selecting projects for CDBG-R funding.

The City closely examined the purposes listed for the Recovery Act as listed and selected specific activities that met those purposes and:

Preserve and maximize job creation and economic benefit

Can award contracts based on bids within 120 days and can be completed expeditiously

(7) Activity Narrative:

In addition to the Spreadsheet for Reporting Proposed CDBG-R Activities, grantees must provide a narrative for each activity describing how the use of the grantee’s CDBG-R funds will meet the requirements of Title XII of Division A and Section 1602 of ARRA. The grantee’s narrative must also state how CDBG-R funds will be used in a manner that maximizes job creation and economic benefit in relation to the CDBG-R funds obligated, and will address the Recovery Act, by:

This essential basic public service activity will provide economic benefit by assisting those most in need regarding the provision of food. It will directly:

Assist those most impacted by the recession; and
Minimize or avoid reductions in essential services

Programs

Benefit Low/Moderate Income (LMI) persons
Ensure that all iron, steel and manufactured goods used in construction, alteration, repair and maintenance of a public building or public works project is produced in the United States
Invest in transportation, environmental protection or other infrastructure that will provide long-term benefits
Assist those impacted by the recession
Increase economic efficiency
Minimize reduction in essential services
Foster energy independence through energy conservation or green building

A. SPREADSHEET FOR REPORTING PROPOSED CDBG-R ACTIVITIES

Grantees must provide information concerning CDBG-R assisted activities in an electronic spreadsheet provided by HUD. The information that must be reported in the spreadsheet includes activity name, activity description, CDBG-R dollar amount budgeted, eligibility category, national objective citation, additional Recovery Act funds for the activity received from other programs, and total activity budget. An electronic copy of the spreadsheet and the format is available on HUD’s recovery website at http://www.hud.gov/recovery.

The Spreadsheet for Reporting Proposed CDBG-R Activities was completed and is attached as page 20.

B. CDBG-R INFORMATION BY ACTIVITY(COMPLETE FOR EACH ACTIVITY)

(1) Activity Name: (Grantees should follow the same order that activities are listed in the Spreadsheet for Reporting Proposed CDBG-R Activities – this will allow HUD to easily match activity narratives with the information provided in the spreadsheet.)

RECONSTRUCTION MEMORIAL PARK PLAYGROUND

(2) Activity Narrative:

Preserving and creating jobs and promoting economic recovery;
Assisting those most impacted by the recession;
Investing in transportation, environmental protection, or other infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits;
Minimizing or avoiding reductions in essential services

The primary activity proposed by the City for funding regards reconstruction of a deficient 19 year old recreation facility (children’s’ playground) in a neighborhood park within a census tract where in excess of 57% of the resident households are of low or moderate income. The facility is not ADA compliant and is number two on a priority list the City has for reconstruction and improvement due to its condition. Replacement priority is based upon issues including – ADA accessibility, usage levels, current replacement parts needs and availability, and age of structure.

This public facility is located in census tract 103.05 where 57% of the residents are of low or moderate income and the most closely adjoining three block groups of that census tract contain 68% to 54% low and moderate income residents. Adjoining census tract block groups 1 and 2 of census tract 103.08 contain 70% to 52% low and moderate income residents.

Estimated foreclosure abandonment risk score for all 4 block groups in census tract 103.05 is a very high 9 out of a possible highest risk score of 10. 9 is the highest risk score calculated for any census tract or block group within the city. All block groups in census tracts 103.05 and 103.08 adjoining the activity location have been identified as eligible for NSP funding given their distress indicators and are also within the City identified priority target area for the use of NSP funding.

This recreation public facility is intensively used by families in the higher density neighborhood adjoining a walkway and heavily used picnic and gathering area for residents.

(3) Jobs Created: (Report the number of full- and part-time jobs estimated to be created and retained by the activity (including permanent, construction, and temporary jobs)).

Estimated private sector jobs to be created will be 4 to 5 construction related trades, 1 construction supervisor, and 2 design trades.

(4) Additional Activity Information: (A description of how the activity will promote energy conservation, smart growth, green building technologies, or reduced pollution emissions, if applicable.) The activity is located within a higher density residential area and provides a more attractive, safer, and accessible recreational facility for families that can be easily reached by walking, bike riding or other non automotive means that provides an alternative to other such facilities that are more practically reached by automobile. As such, this facility will contribute to energy conservation, reduced pollution emissions, and smart growth objectives by enhancing and improving recreation facilities within the City core.

(5) Responsible Organization: (Contact information for the organization that will implement the CDBG-R activity, including its name, location, and administrator contact information)

City of Arvada, 8101 Ralston Road,Arvada, Colorado 80002

Edward Talbot – CDBG-R administrator,720-898-7494

ed-t@ci.arvada.co.us

B. CDBG-R INFORMATION BY ACTIVITY(COMPLETE FOR EACH ACTIVITY)

(6) Activity Name: (Grantees should follow the same order that activities are listed in the Spreadsheet for Reporting Proposed CDBG-R Activities – this will allow HUD to easily match activity narratives with the information provided in the spreadsheet.)

ARVADA COMMUNITY FOOD BANK

The Emergency Food Assistance Program provides a balanced, nutritional three day emergency supply of food to families living in our service area. Families and households may use the service up to 6 times a year. The quantity of food provided is based on household size. The Feeding the Future Backpack program provides food for over 600 children at six Arvada elementary schools every week during the school year. Each Friday children take home sacks filled with food when the safety-net of the free and reduced school lunch is not available The program is meant to provide children who are on the free and reduced lunch program some extra meals to see them through the week-end when they might otherwise go hungry. We provide two breakfast, two lunches, two snacks fruits and vegetables.

Comparison of current year versus prior year

Beginning in October 2008 through April 2009 we have experienced a 21 % increase in the number of households served. We are currently experiencing an average of 5 new households per day requesting food; these folks are the recently unemployed and under-employed. The profile of the clients we serve reflects 35% low income seniors, 40% children and 25% adults between the ages of 18 and 64 years of age. Last year we served 8,530 households representing 33,379 individuals. With our current pace The Arvada Community Food Bank anticipates they will serve over 10,000 households this fiscal year.

(8) Jobs Created: (Report the number of full- and part-time jobs estimated to be created and retained by the activity (including permanent, construction, and temporary jobs)).

CDBG-R funding will expand ability of existing volunteers and paid staff to assist households most seriously impacted by the recession through job loss or other events that have led them to seek out the most basic of human needs – food – through the Arvada Community Food Bank (see above).

(9) Additional Activity Information: (A description of how the activity will promote energy conservation, smart growth, green building technologies, or reduced pollution emissions, if applicable.). Not applicable

(10)Responsible Organization: (Contact information for the organization that will implement the CDBG-R activity, including its name, location, and administrator contact information)

Arvada Food Bank,10405 W. 64th Pl.,Arvada, Co. 80004

Ernest Jiron ,303-424-6685

History

The Arvada Community Food Bank is a Colorado nonprofit 501 c (3) corporation formed in 1982. Our goal is to secure the resources necessary to provide programs to help meet the nutritional needs of qualifying community members.

From the beginning the Arvada Community Food Bank has worked with city government, churches, schools, civic organizations, businesses and private citizens to ensure that the residents of Arvada and surrounding communities would have a place to go for emergency food. We have 180 dedicated volunteers that donate a total of 12,670 hours of service to our community each year.

B. CDBG-R INFORMATION BY ACTIVITY(COMPLETE FOR EACH ACTIVITY)

(11)Activity Name: (Grantees should follow the same order that activities are listed in the Spreadsheet for Reporting Proposed CDBG-R Activities – this will allow HUD to easily match activity narratives with the information provided in the spreadsheet.)

CARIN CLINIC

(12)Activity Narrative:

This essential basic public service activity will provide economic benefit by assisting those most in need regarding the provision of primary medical care. It will directly:

Assist those most impacted by the recession; and
Minimize or avoid reductions in essential services

Programs

Carin’ Clinic provides care for minor acute illness, chronic illness, well-child checks, camp and sports physicals, immunizations, prescriptions (including vouchers for families unable to pay for the prescriptions), and referrals to others sources of medical care when needed. A recent partnership with the Metropolitan Community Provider Network provides an on-site visit for children who have been referred by a nurse practitioner

Comparison of current year versus prior year

Patient visits in first quarter 2009 are almost exactly the same as the first quarter of 2008. But, that is because they are operating at capacity. The clinic anticipates the numbers will increase once they are open more hours – they are booked solid each day and unable to see everyone who seeks an appointment. Along with the need for expanded hours, there is also a demand for services such as mental health and dental care.

The most telling indicator of how the economy has affected families is the billed but uncollected patient fees. They have begun tracking uncollected patient fees back to January 2008. The uncollected fees for July-Dec 2008 were more than three times what they were for the first half of the year. In addition, the uncollected fees for Jan - Mar 2009 is almost 2.5 times what they were for the first quarter of 2008. Fewer families are able to afford even the minimal fees charged. (Report the number of full- and part-time jobs estimated to be created and retained by the activity (including permanent, construction, and temporary jobs)).

Last Monday a call came from a woman who needed to get her child in for a sick visit. We were able to squeeze her in between two other appointments that same day. Before we got off the phone she said she just wanted me to know how grateful she was that we were here because she didn't know where else to go since they didn't have insurance.

(13)Jobs Created:

CDBG-R funding will expand ability of existing volunteers and paid staff to assist households most seriously impacted by the recession through job loss or other events that have led them to seek out the most basic of human needs – primary health care for children – through the Carin Clinic (see above).

(14)Additional Activity Information:

(A description of how the activity will promote energy conservation, smart growth, green building technologies, or reduced pollution emissions, if applicable.) Not applicable

(15)Responsible Organization:

(Contact information for the organization that will implement the CDBG-R activity, including its name, location, and administrator contact information)

Carin Clinic, 5751 Balsam Street, Arvada, Co. 80002

Rachel Capra ,303-423-8836

History

The Carin’ Clinic has been in operation since 1993, and was created by two school nurses who found that many of the students in Arvada had no health insurance, and no access to health care. In collaboration with the City of Arvada and various community entities, this unique clinic has been serving children in central Arvada, in what was once a school library. They work to promote healthy children, healthy families, and a healthy community. Care is provided by Pediatric Nurse Practitioners from the University Of Colorado Denver College Of Nursing.

C. Public Comment

Note: The Proposed CDBG-R Substantial Amendment notice was published on May 14, 2009 and provided for the 7 calendar day period for public comment from May 15 to May 22, 2009. The notice and the CDBG-R Substantial Amendment documents were posted on the City website at:

A Proposed CDBG-R Substantial Amendment must be published via the usual methods and posted on the jurisdiction’s website for no less than 7 calendar days for public comment.

http://arvada.org/city-services/housing/

Response:

At the time of this writing, the City of Arvada has not received any comments regarding the CDBG-R Substantial Amendment. Public comments will be added as received through June 1, 2009. CDBG-R activities as follows:

Reporting and Transparency:

The City plans to follow reporting requirements regarding

Timely and accurate reporting in IDIS
Not later than 10 days after the end of each calendar quarter, the City shall submit a report as detailed by HUD that contains: (1) the total amount of recovery funds received; (2) the amount of recovery funds received that were expended or obligated to projects or activities; and (3) a detailed list of all projects or activities for which recovery funds were expended or obligated, including the name of the project or activity; a description of the project or activity; an evaluation of the completion status of the project or activity; an estimate of the number of jobs created and the number of jobs retained by the project or activity; and for infrastructure investments made by the City, the purpose, total cost, and rationale of the City for funding the infrastructure investment with funds made available under the Recovery Act and name of the person to contact at the City if there are concerns with the infrastructure investment.
Not later than 30 calendar days after the end of each calendar quarter, the City shall make the information in reports submitted publicly available by posting the information on its website.
The City’s agreements with subrecipients or units of general local government will contain a special contract condition requiring them to comply with the reporting requirements established for CDBG-R funding.
All grantees, subrecipients and contractors desiring to participate in the CDBG-R program will obtain a Damation regarding subrecipients, other organizations, and contractors receiving CDBG-R funding will also be required to comply with the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–282) and to ensure accountability and transparency as cited in Title XV of the Recovery Act.

The City will require that additional information regarding subrecipients, other organizations, and contractors receiving CDBG-R funding will also be required to comply with the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–282) and to ensure accountability and transparency as cited in Title XV of the Recovery Act.

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American Recovery Act -The CDBG-R Recipients