arpa@cobbcounty.org
Introduction
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), a $1.9 trillion economic relief package to deliver aid to American states, counties, and cities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cobb County, Georgia will receive more than $147 million as its ARPA allocation.
Based on the results and analysis of community engagement interviews, focus groups, listening sessions and a community needs survey, the County has approved investment guidance that sets aside ARPA funding for projects that address 20 subtopics in five priority areas of need below:
Community Health – to enhance mental, physical, and behavioral healthcare services
Support Services – to enhance programming and services for vulnerable and disadvantaged members of the community
Economic Development – to aid recovery through the business sector and workforce opportunities
County Infrastructure – to enhance the County’s physical and/or structural capacity to meet operational responsibilities
Public Safety – to assist in keeping Cobb County residents safe
* Open to applicants representing Cobb County government only.
Beginning June 6, 2022, Cobb County is calling for project applications in line with these priority areas and subtopics. Applications must be submitted by the deadline of September 9th, 2022 at 5 pm EST.
This application process is open to individuals that wish to submit project ideas, even if they do not have the ability to carry out those projects, as well as organizations that have the capacity to implement specific proposals.
If the applicant is unable to execute on their idea, the applicant will not receive ARPA funding directly. However, if the application is strong enough, it may be considered for a process to identify entities capable of execution.
Submission Criteria
Please note: This application is not for individual household or business direct grants.
Application Instructions
All projects and applicants must abide by the following application criteria:
Please note, your changes may not be saved if you leave or exit the application window and come back to finish the application later. Please plan on completing the application in one sitting.
Application Evaluation
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received and will be scored on how fully they satisfy the following criteria:
Criteria
Description
Equity
The extent to which a proposed project cultivates the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment.
Financial Continuity
The extent to which a proposed project avoids imposing operating/maintenance costs on Cobb County, beyond ARPA grant funding.
Impact
The extent of the benefits the proposed project will demonstrate to Cobb County residents and the community
Leverage
The extent to which a proposed project can demonstrate accessing other sources of funding to maximize benefits of County ARPA dollars
Risk Mitigation
The extent to which a proposed project anticipates project risk(s) and outlines plans to address risk(s)
Project Budget
The extent to which there is a clear and realistic financial plan for completing the proposed project
Project Plan
The extent to which schedule, feasibility, quality, and scope of the project are clearly described in the project proposal
Key Performance Indicators
The extent to which proposed project success will be measured and reported
Please note, additional information from applicants may be requested as needed. Final funding decisions will be made by the Cobb County Board of Commissioners.
Section I: Applicant Information and Eligibility
1.1 General Information
Requested ARPA funding amount:
Estimated Total Project Cost:
1.1 Are you applying as an individual or on behalf of an organization?
1.1 Supporting documents that demonstrate approval from your organization’s leadership. Please click “upload” after the file has been selected.
1.2 This application is open to both organizations and individuals. Organizations should be able to execute their proposed project, and thus answer “yes” to this question. Individual applicants who do not have the ability to execute their project idea should answer “no.” If these applications are strong enough, they may be considered for a process to identify entities capable of project execution. Applicants that are not able to execute their project will not receive funding directly.
1.2 Are you or the organization you represent applying with the intention and ability to execute the activities proposed in this application?
1.3 For organizations only:
1.3 Has your organization received grant funding from the federal government or Cobb County in the past three years? If yes, please briefly describe.
1.3 What Cobb County district is your organization located in?
To determine the district, search your organization address here:
(Link opens in new window)
https://www.cobbcounty.org/board/district-commissioners/find-your-commissioner
1.4 Does this project respond to the public health and/or economic impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic?
1.5 Which of Cobb County's five priorities areas does this project align with?
1.5 Please identify which associated subtopic(s) your project aligns with:
1.6 Will this project take place in Cobb County, Georgia, USA?
Section II: Detailed Project Scope, Timeline, & Budget
2.1 A scope, often outlined in a Scope of Work (SOW), is a detailed description of the proposed project and all its activities. This includes the project’s purpose and objective, what activities will be carried out to achieve them, and a project timeline. The purpose of the scope is to clearly define what a project will encompass and what it will not. The scope should provide detail on how the project will get to the objectives. Please describe the expected project scope (outline of project activities) in as much detail as possible.
2.2 Please attach a chronological project timeline (MS Excel or Word file preferred) with an estimated timetable and brief description of each activity. You may use as many rows as you need.
2.2 Upload Timeline file here. Please click “upload” after the file has been selected.
2.3 For each activity identified in Question 2.2, please provide a line-item budget of project expenses (MS Excel or Word file preferred). This should only include expenses to be paid for with the requested ARPA funding.
2.3 Upload Budget file here. Please click “upload” after the file has been selected.
2.4 Indirect costs can be general overhead costs and/or administrative expenses indirectly related to project implementation. Indirect costs are usually captured through a percentage of total project costs also known as an indirect rate. If the applicant has not previously established an indirect cost rate with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, an organization may use a default indirect rate of 10% of the project’s modified total direct costs (MTDC). MTDC means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $25,000 of each subaward, regardless of the period of performance of the subawards under the award.
2.5 Has this project received funding from any other federal source, or are federal funds anticipated? If yes, please provide supporting documentation.
2.5 Supporting Documentation. Please click “upload” after the file has been selected.
2.6 Do you expect this project to impose ongoing costs on Cobb County that would not be fully covered by the requested amount of ARPA funding? If yes, please provide additional information.
2.6 Supporting Documentation. Please click “upload” after the file has been selected.
2.8 For County Staff Only
Section III: Targeting Impacted Populations & Equity
3.1 Projects are encouraged to be designed in a manner that cultivates equity. For the purposes of ARPA, projects are encouraged to be designed in a manner that cultivates the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.
Incorporating equity into project plans means considering the dimensions above and prioritizing support for communities with the highest need.
Does this project incorporate equity by supporting residents of Cobb County who are part of underserved communities and/or have been denied consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment?
3.1 Does this project cultivate equity?
3.2 Qualified Census Tracts can serve as indicators of areas with increased need. A census tract is a statistical subdivision of counties that may include a few neighborhoods in a city or, in rural areas, may include several towns. The Department of Housing and Urban Development defines Qualified Census Tracts (QCTs) as those which demonstrate a poverty rate of at least 25 percent. Alternatively, 50 percent or more of its households must have incomes below 60 percent of the area’s median household income.
To view Qualified Census Tract locations, follow the link found here:
https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sadda/sadda_qct.html
3.2 Will the benefits from this project occur within a Qualified Census Tract (QCT) in Cobb County?
3.3 Cobb County ARPA funding must be used to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency and to facilitate a strong recovery in communities that were impacted by the pandemic.
ARPA guidelines define a “low-income household” as a household with income at or below 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for the size of its household based on the poverty guidelines published most recently by the Department of Health and Human Services; or income at or below 40 percent of the Area Median Income for its county and size of household based on data published most recently by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
A “moderate-income household” is defined as a household with income at or below 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for the size of its household based on poverty guidelines published most recently by the Department of Health and Human Services; or income at or below 65 percent of the Area Median Income for its county and size of household based on data published most recently by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The table below lists the upper thresholds for both low- and middle-income households in Cobb County as defined by ARPA.
Cobb County, Georgia Income
Thresholds by Household Size (USD)
Household Size
Low Income Threshold
Middle Income Threshold
1
$24,160
$39,260
2
$32,227
$52,260
3
$40,626
$65,880
4
$49,025
$79,500
5
$57,424
$93,120
6
$65,823
$106,740
7
$74,222
$120,360
8
$82,621
$133,980
3.3 Does the proposed project support any of the following communities that are impacted and/or disproportionately impacted by COVID-19?
Section IV: Key Performance Indicators
4.1 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), sometimes called ‘outputs’, are data points to measure project impact. They indicate the state of a project’s performance. KPIs provide an opportunity for applicants to measure and evaluate their project both during and after the project ends.
By defining the KPI with a clear target number and benefit/service, project evaluators can compare current or actual data to the original KPI and assess how a project is tracking to its goals.
Several examples are provided below for illustrative purposes only.
Example 1: Proposed Project is intended to address Household Assistance and/or Housing Support
KPIs for Proposed Project:
Example 2: Proposed Project is intended to address Negative Economic Impacts
4.2 Project Outcomes: Outcomes are the intended or desired changes expected to result from a project. Outcomes build off KPIs by explaining the deeper value or change they are intended to bring. For example, for the KPI ‘600 individuals enrolled in a job training program’, the intended outcome may be to measure if the enrollees’ unemployment rate decreased.
4.3 Does this project include a partnership with community or professional organizations, businesses, non-profits, or other relevant organizations?
Upload File(s) Please click “upload” after the file has been selected.