American Recovery & Reinvestment Act Funding for Rural Communities

1. American Recovery & Reinvestment Act Funding for Rural Communities David Shideler, Brian Whitacre Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

2. Overview

3. Energy Programs • State Energy Program • RFP deadline passed on April 27, 2009 • Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants • Program Priorities: Alternative fuel (compressed natural gas, hybrids), Demand management, Carbon capture, Renewable energy (ground source heat pumps), Energy efficiency (building retrofits), Education • Deadlines: • Community Proposals for State Funding, May 19, 2009 • Proposals for Federal Funding, June 25, 2009 • Weatherization • Funds to be distributed to Community Action Agencies

4. Economic Development • Community Development Block Grants • Still awaiting final regulations • Entitlement communities not eligible • At least 51% of the jobs to be created will be held by or made available to persons who qualify as Low to Moderate Income (LMI) persons • At least one (1) permanent job will be created for every $35,000 of CDBG funds requested.  Lower costs per job ratios are encouraged • Economic Development Infrastructure Financing Grants • Maximum of $1 million • Special set aside for Indian Tribes

5. Economic Development (cont’d.) • Workforce Investment Act programs • Funds will be distributed according to existing program formulas to the 12 WIBs • State plan will be submitted to Federal agency by June 5, 2009 • HHS Community Economic Development Projects • Funds are available to community development centers for well-planned, financially viable, and innovative projects to enhance job creation and business development in low-income communities. • The grants will be made as part of a broader strategy to address objectives such as arresting tendencies toward financial dependency, chronic unemployment, and community deterioration in urban and rural areas. • Deadline: May 28, 2009

6. Economic Development (cont’d.) • Dept of Labor’s Recovery Act Competitive Grant Opportunities • $500 million targeted for projects that prepare workers for careers in energy efficiency and renewable energy • Solicitation will be issued no later than June 30, 2009

7. Transportation • Green Transit Investments (TIGGER) • For the purchase of capital investments that will lead to a reduction in energy consumption or greenhouse gas emissions of a public transit system • Deadline: May 22, 2009 • Minimum grant: $2 million

8. Environment • Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) • Funding will go towards construction projects for drinking water systems in the form of 30% grant, 70% loan packages • Deadline: June 16, 2009 • Agency: OK Department of Environmental Quality • Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) • Funding will go towards construction projects for new wastewater facilities, or replacement / rehabilitation of existing facilities • More info: www.deq.state.ok.us/recovery/OK_StimulusFunding.pdf

9. Environment (cont’d.) • Water Marketing and Efficiency Grants • Agency: Bureau of Reclamation • Seeks to fund cost share projects that bank water, market water, conserve water, or generally make more efficient use of existing water supplies • www.usbr.gov

10. Broadband • Broadband Grants • $4.7B through NTIA • Some funds (~$200M) will be available for libraries / community colleges • 3 rounds of funding (split evenly) • April – June 2009 • October – December 2009 • April – June 2010

11. Additional Opportunities • Communities facing high unemployment: • http://www.okcommerce.gov/recovery/?page_id=20 • Businesses looking for Stimulus funds: • http://www.okcommerce.gov/recovery/?page_id=89 • Keep checking the web!!

12. Resources • “The Federal Stimulus Package: Funds Available to Oklahoma State and Local Governments” • Available at: http://www.oml.org/cnt/files/Economic_Recovery/OKPolStimulusbrief[1].pdf • Recovery.ok.gov • www.okcommerce.gov/recovery/