File #: 24-0717    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Action Item Status: Consent Agenda
File created: 11/6/2024 In control: Board of County Commissioners
On agenda: 11/12/2024 Final action:
Title: Approve Use of ARPA Funds to Support Positions in Grants Administration and Finance Departments to Assist Management of ARPA Projects
Attachments: 1. SLFRF-Final-Rule-FAQ
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Item:                       

Title

Approve Use of ARPA Funds to Support Positions in Grants Administration and Finance Departments to Assist Management of ARPA Projects

 

Body

Date of BOCC Meeting:  November 12, 2024

Agenda Text

The Board is requested to approve the utilization of a portion of the County’s total ARPA award totaling $1,005,152 to support the addition of five (5) time-limited positions in the Grants Administration and Finance Departments to assist with day-to-day management of the County’s ARPA-funded initiatives. The positions in the Grants Administration Department would primarily focus on supporting those projects for which there is not currently an assigned Department program administrator (e.g., the Senior Home Repair program, the Community Land Trust Contract, the Homeless Services Grant program, and the Interlocal Agreements with the City of Durham and Durham Public Schools) as well as initiatives where a need has been identified to provide additional grant management capacity (e.g., broadband projects, food security projects), while the responsibilities of the positions in the Finance Department would encompass the full ARPA portfolio. Specifically, the funding would be used to support:

 

                     Two (2) Management Analysts in the Grant Administration Department to assist with project monitoring and oversight, performance evaluation, reporting, communications, and other grant administration responsibilities for ARPA funded projects.

                     One (1) Executive Accountant position within the Finance Department to support fund accounting and management for the full ARPA portfolio for the remainder of the ARPA award period.

                     One (1) Compliance Specialist to support the Compliance Section within the Finance Department to assist with financial monitoring, financial reporting, internal control monitoring, and other compliance-related tasks related to the ARPA funds.

                     One (1) Management Fellow in the Grants Administration Department to assist with administrative responsibilities and to support the work of the two Management Analysts in overseeing ARPA-funded projects.

 

The addition of these positions in the Grants Administration and Finance Departments should help ensure that the County is able to efficiently and effectively fulfill all of its administrative responsibilities related to the management of the ARPA funds, as well as to help ensure the successful accomplishment of the program objectives for the various initiatives.

 

To ensure compliance with the ARPA obligation deadlines and expenditure deadlines, the positions will need to be established and filled by December 31, 2024, with the term of the positions ending no later than December 31, 2026.

 

Alignment with Strategic Plan: Financial Stewardship: Collecting, Funding, and Managing Resources for High Quality Service Delivery

 

Resource Persons: John Keefer, Grants Administrator; Ella Hargrove, Management Analyst

 

 

County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board approve use of ARPA funds to support the outlined positions for ARPA grant administration and financial management.