Funding
The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program, a part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), delivers $350 billion to state, local, and Tribal governments across the country to support their response to and recovery from the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The SLFRF program is administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and provides assistance for specified uses to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on public health and economic impacts to households, small businesses, nonprofits, impacted industries, and the public sector. Specifically, the SLFRF program provides governments across the country with the resources needed to:
- Fight the pandemic and support families and businesses struggling with its public health and economic impacts
- Maintain vital public services, even amid declines in revenue resulting from the crisis
- Build a strong, resilient, and equitable recovery by making investments that support long-term growth and opportunity
The U.S. Treasury has released the Final Rule for the program, which took effect on April 1, 2022. Recipients and stakeholders are also encouraged to consult the Overview of the Final Rule, which provides a summary of Final Rule provisions for informational purposes, and the SLFRF Guidance on Recipient Compliance and Reporting Responsibilities. The most recent information related to the Final Rule, the Overview of the Final Rule, and other important information related to SLFRF can be found through the Treasury link above.
Per the U.S. Department of the Treasury, all SLFRF award funds must be obligated by December 31, 2024. Once obligated, all SLFRF award funds must be expended by December 31, 2026.
Programs
The Department of Local Affairs, Division of Local Government (DLG) Manages four (4) grant programs that disburse SLFRF funding. Policies and procedures for each program can be found within the respective program files and websites:
Broadband Interconnectivity Planning and Implementation Grants
The Broadband Interconnectivity Planning and Implementation Grants provide financial assistance to local governments for:
- planning, design, equipment and construction of public broadband facilities, and
- prioritized toward providing broadband interconnectivity between communities in rural or other areas that are currently unserved and underserved by broadband infrastructure.
Innovative Affordable Housing Planning and Incentives Grant Program
The Innovative Affordable Housing Planning and Incentives Grant Program is managed by the Community Development Office (CDO) with close collaboration from the Division of Housing (DOH) and provides two funding opportunities to local governments working to advance affordable housing:
- Planning Grants: to analyze housing needs and to make lasting changes to regulations, processes, incentives, and policies to remove barriers to affordable housing development. Planning Grant funds are being used by municipalities and counties to support their efforts to adopt land use strategies that fit community goals and diverse local contexts, and
- Incentive Grants: to develop one or more affordable housing developments in their community that are livable, vibrant, and driven by community benefits.can be found on the program’s website and within each grant agreement.
Nonprofit Infrastructure Grant Program
The Nonprofit Infrastructure Grant Program provides financial assistance to small community-based nonprofit organizations for:
- infrastructure funding to help mitigate the financial hardships of the COVID-19 public health emergency, and
- will fund up to 10 regional access partners - who will work with the Department of Local Affairs to administer grants of no more than $100,000 to small community-based nonprofit programs across the state of Colorado.
Strong Communities Grant Program
The Strong Communities Grant Program is collaboratively managed by the Division of Local Government (DLG), Colorado Energy Office (CEO), and Department of Transportation (CDOT). This grant program supports community investments in:
- infill infrastructure projects that support affordable housing and are within or adjacent to a downtown area, core business district, transit oriented development, or include onsite early childhood care and educational services, and
- amending local policies, programs, and regulations to drive more sustainable development patterns, resulting in increased affordable housing options, decreased traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions, and increased public and business health. can be found on the program’s website and within each grant agreement.