Mission Statement

Guide state and national actions that affect economic development in the region and adopt joint actions among member governments that enhance the regional economy.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

In 2009 the President signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) into law, an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century.

REAP is committed to working to maximize the resources for our region from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to create jobs; provide assistance to families; build roads and bridges; and lower health care costs through modern technology.  The challenge now is to move into action quickly to ensure that local governments gain access to the funds that are available.  It is also important that local governments proceed with full accountability.  Therefore, REAP provides the following information and compilation of links to information pertaining to the Act:  

How to Use Recovery.gov

  • Click on the State of Kansas on the virtual map. 

  • This will take you to another virtual map that allows you to search by an agency's name or your zip code to see the ARRA funds in your area.

  • On this page you can also click on the "State/Territory Summaries" link, located in the upper left-hand tool bar under Recipient Reported Data.  This will take you to a pages that provides information on the number of ARRA funds awarded, type of award, funds available, jobs created, top recipients, top infrastructure recipients, jobs created per Congressional District, and top funding federal agencies.  This site also provides information on the progress of state awards/

  • By clicking on Agency Reported Date, located in the upper left-hand toolbar, you can also find ARRA information reported by agencies.  This data includes funding and unemployment, and you can search by state, county or zipcode.


Helpful Links

 


National Association Links

IEDConline.org - IEDC Economic Recovery Zone, a member's only site where IEDC members can access federal funding and other resources to retain jobs and investment during tough economic times.

ICMA.org/newsletter - International City/County Management Association newsletter urging local governments to act immediately for funds available through ARRA

AWWA.org/files - American Water Works Association post of local government perspective overview of ARRA summary of funds by program

NACO.org/County News - National Association of Counties breakdown of tax reductions, and incentives and funding.

NLC.org - National League of Cities page containing information on upcoming events pertaining to ARRA and links to Federal Resource.

 

Federal Links

Recovery.gov - Overview of ARRA and Links to valuable information.


Grants.gov - Source to find and apply for federal government grants.


EECBG.energy.gov - Vice President Joe Biden and Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced plans to invest $3.2 billion in energy efficiency and conservation projects in U.S. cities, counties, states, territories, and Native American tribes.  This includes $21,062,200 for state, county and city efforts in Kansas.

EPA.gov/recovery - Environmental Protection Administration information related to ARRA.
 

State Links

ConnectKansas.org - A Kansas web site with information on funding opportunities to boost rural broadband. 

Governor.ks.gov/recovery - Kansas' web site for information on ARRA, bringing together the most recent, comprehensive information on this legislation, and to help inform both business and local government of the opportunities ARRA may provide.

KCC Launches Efficiency Kansas with Federal Stimulus Dollars -  Operated through the Kansas State Energy Office, part of the Efficiency Kansas program will us stimulus funds to provide loans for projects such as adding insulation or upgrading heating and air conditioning systems for small business owners and homeowners. 

KDOT - Kansas Department of Transportation site which includes more information on ARRA projects and a project map.

LKM.org - League of Kansas Municipalities' page with links to information regarding various types of funds available through ARRA.

Local Energy Efficiency Improvements in Kansas

Kansas Corporation Commission Energy Manager Grant

SCKEDD.org/weather - The Kansas Weatherization Assistance Program has grants for a number of home energy improvements.  The program is coordinated throughout the region by SCKEDD in the following counties:  Barber, Chautauqua, Cowley, Elk, Harper, Kingman, McPherson, Rice, Reno, Pratt, Stafford, Sedgwick and Sumner.

Staterecovery.org - is a service of The Council of State Governments (CSG) designed to help states: 1) rapidly decipher potential funding opportunities; and 2) share best practices by tracking how the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government are responding to and impacted by this historic legislation.

  • Staterecovery.org/Guide for State Governments - Council of State Governments "The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: A Guide to State and Local Governments" is a general summary of the law to help identify funding opportunities for further inquiry.

  • Staterecovery.org/grants - State Recovery page with links to specific state grant opportunities through ARRA funds.

 

Local Links

Reinvest Wichita - City of Wichita stimulus-tracking website.

Sedgwickcounty.org/stimulus/index.asp - Sedgwick County stimulus tracker.


Additional Information

Recipients of Federal Stimulus Grants Must Register on Website - The Washington Post reports that federal stimulus recipients, "have until Oct. 1 to register with FederalReporting.gov ," a new website that was launched this week.

Munis Federal Stimulus - Moody's Public Finance article "U.S. Federal Stimulus Likely to Relieve Short-term Credit Pressures Facing a Number of Municipal Issuers."

Foley.com/publications - Foley & Lardner LLP newsletter alert summarizing and discussing Build America Bonds' impact on the tax-exempt finance industry.

NRCS.usda.gov/recovery - Natural Resources Conservation Service Information Related to ARRA including Restoring Flood-Prone Lands.

KDHEks.gov/muni - Kansas Department of Health and Environment Wastewater Revolving Loan Fund Draft Briefing Paper and Project Priority List. Check to see if your community projects are on the list! Public Hearing for the draft priority list is scheduled for 10 a.m. March 23, 2009, in the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Topeka, Kansas.

NGWA.org/govaffairs/arra - National Groundwater Association's ARRA Overview.

Transparent-Gov.com/Stimulus - The National Information Consortium (NIC) is the nation’s leading provider of official portals, online services, and secure payment processing solutions that increase government transparency. NIC has constructed lists of state Transparency Projects and contains links to state recovery websites.

Entrepreneur.com/money - "Get Your Hands on Stimulus Money" is an article featuring Gus Ezcurra, CEO of Advanced Telemetry, explaining how business owners can take advantage of the stimulus bill's energy rebates.

Wichita.edu/thisis/l/esophf/ - The Kansas Board of Regents recently announced that the state's six universities will receive $7.7 million from the higher education portion of the Federal State Fiscal Stabilization Fund for fiscal year 2009.  The Regents allocated 100 percent of the available current-year funding to 16 critical deferred university maintenance projects on the state university campuses.  The funds will result in WSU receiving $847,192 for heating, ventilation and air conditioning replacement in the Engineering building.

Stimulus Project Money Set Aside for Business Renovations and Sidewalk Repair - Wichita receives a $764,000 block grant for sidewalk repairs and neighborhood revitalization.
  
 

Webinars, Audio Conferences, and Webcasts

Connect Kansas Webinar: February 19, 2010

  • The Kansas Department of Commerce will hold an applicant webinar for any organization interested in applying for BIP or BTOP funding.  
  • Interested parties can register for the webinar here.

Message of Endorsement

 

REAP endorses NLC recommended actions as follows:

• Contacting state departments of transportation to learn how they plan to allocate transportation funds that must come through the state.

• Reviewing the regional metropolitan planning organization priorities to define priority projects that will be most effective in creating jobs.

• Reviewing the permitting process to ensure that projects can move quickly and in accordance with oversight and accountability requirements that are likely to be included in the funding legislation.

• Streamlining procurement processes, consistent with accountability requirements.

• Meeting with school superintendents and/or school board presidents to coordinate on how federal education funds can be used most effectively to address local needs.

• Developing a plan with regional workforce investment boards for summer youth employment projects and other workforce development initiatives.”