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Kansas Office of Recovery





March 10, 2023






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This week’s edition of the Office of Recovery Newsletter features an announcement regarding Kansas receiving $15 million in Digital Connectivity Technology (DCT) funds. These federal dollars will support initiatives to increase broadband access to communities across Kansas. DCT is made available under the American Rescue Act (ARPA) Capital Projects Fund (CPF). 

Also featured is the Kansas Education Enrichment Program (KEEP) which is now open for application. The program provides qualifying parents and guardians with a one-time $1,000 award per child to pay for educational goods and services, such as tutoring and school supplies. Information on the program and how to apply is below. 

A reminder of upcoming reporting deadlines for recipients of discretionary ARPA funds is also included. 

For the latest Treasury updates and information about resources available to Kansans, see the “Updates to Services and Support” section of this newsletter. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the Office of Recovery website at: COVID.ks.gov [ [link removed] ]  

 

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Program Spotlight

Broadband

 

*Kansas Receives ARPA Broadband Funds for Connectivity Initiatives* 

Governor Laura Kelly announced this week that Kansas is the first state to receive $15 million in U.S. Department of Treasury Digital Connectivity Technology (DCT) funds. The money will support equal access to high-speed internet, provide devices to underserved Kansans, and expand digital skills training for communities across Kansas.   

“It’s not enough to expand high-speed internet across Kansas – we must also show Kansans of all ages and backgrounds how to make the internet a useful tool in their everyday lives,” Governor Laura Kelly said*.* “These funds will provide the devices and skills training to help every Kansan benefit from our investments to make high-speed internet available in their local communities.”    

Kansas was the first state in the country to recognize the need to design a program that offers free computers and free public Wi-Fi to underserved Kansans with these funds. DCT is made available under the American Rescue Plan Act Capital Projects Fund (CPF). States have the option to put all CPF dollars toward broadband infrastructure or to set aside some of the funding for programs that ensure broadband is more fully accessible to hard-to-reach communities.   

“We know infrastructure is not enough to bridge the digital divide in underserved areas,” Jade Piros de Carvalho, Director of the Kansas Office of Broadband, said*.* “Our office is excited to put these dollars to work to bring Kansans unique opportunities that provide needed equipment and skills training.”   

The Office of Broadband has been conducting meetings across the state to solicit feedback for a five-year broadband access and digital equity strategic plan. These listening sessions have also highlighted the need for laptops/computers, public wi-fi, and digital training programs.   

A full list of scheduled public engagement sessions and additional dates and locations, can be found here [ [link removed] ]. More information about federal broadband efforts is available at AffordableConnectivity.gov [ [link removed] ] and InternetforAll.gov [ [link removed] ].  

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*Qualifying Families Can Apply for $1000 per Student for Learning Recovery* 

The Kansas Education Enrichment Program (KEEP) is open to applications from qualifying parents and guardians of Kansas students. KEEP provides a $1,000 award per student to pay for various educational goods and services that promote learning recovery and facilitate academic enrichment opportunities.  

KEEP funds may be used on various enrichment and educational activities, including:​  


* Day and overnight camps with academic-related curriculum such as music, arts, science, technology, agriculture, mathematics, and engineering 
* Curriculum and educational materials, including certain technological devices  
* Language classes  
* Musical instruments and lessons  
* Tutoring  

The funds are not eligible for school tuition. 

Eligibility for KEEP funds is determined by financial need, and funds will be distributed to actively enrolled K-12 Kansas students between the ages of 5-18. Students whose household income is less than 185% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines are eligible. 

Subject to funding availability, future waves of funding may be provided with expanded household income eligibility parameters.  

Families can learn if they qualify, apply for the program, read the full handbook of rules and instructions, and browse the marketplace of qualified service providers at www.keep.ks.gov [ [link removed] ]. Program participants will have access to a web and mobile app for using their awarded funds. 

Businesses that offer educational opportunities and services are invited to join the KEEP Marketplace to assist students and families. Parents and guardians can search for those opportunities across Kansas on the KEEP Marketplace. Parents and guardians may also submit requests for additional businesses to be added to the Marketplace if they know of a business that would qualify. 

Businesses interested in becoming a provider on the KEEP Marketplace can apply to become a Qualified Education Service Provider on the program website: www.keep.ks.gov. [ [link removed] ]  

KEEP is being offered through a contract between Merit International, Inc. and the Kansas Office of Recovery to provide educational activities and learning opportunities to students across Kansas to promote educational learning recovery in response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is funded with American Rescue Plan Act dollars approved through the SPARK process.  

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SPARK Programs
SPARK

 

In December the State Finance Council approved a total of $374 million in COVID-19 relief funds for broadband infrastructure and adoption, the modernization and improvement of government services, economic development, and health and education initiatives recommended by the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Executive Committee. 

The portfolio of approved funding includes competitive grant programs in the four SPARK Advisory Panel areas: Connectivity, Efficiency and Modernization, Health and Education, and Economic Revitalization. 

An overview of approved programs and their current status is available on the Office of Recovery’s website [ [link removed] ]. 

Additional details on these competitive funding opportunities, including information on the timeline and process to apply for funding through these programs, will be shared as available.  

Those that previously submitted an idea submission to the SPARK process will be notified of funding opportunities relevant to their proposal once that information is available.  

Programs approved through the SPARK process that are currently open for application include: 


* *Health Facilities and Program Expansion - *[link removed] [ [link removed] ] 
* *Community Resource Capacity Accelerator - *[link removed] [ [link removed] ]* * 
* *Child Care Capacity Accelerator - *[link removed] [ [link removed] ]*  * 
* *State Park Revitalization and Investment in Notable Tourism (SPRINT) –* [link removed] [ [link removed] ]* * 

Additional programs will be added to this list as applications open. 

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Reporting Reminder
Broadband
 

*Upcoming Federal Reports for Recipients of ARPA Funds* 

Entities that received discretionary funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) have upcoming federal reports due to the US Treasury. Upcoming reports for State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) recipients include:

 

Local Governments classified as NEUs receiving under $10 million LFRF (as well as cities and counties receiving under $10 million in funding and have a population less than 250K):  


* The next report for this group will be the 2nd Project and Expenditure (P&E) Report, *due April 30, 2023. * NEUs cannot submit reports until the US Treasury has prepopulated P&E reports in the US Treasury Reporting Portal [ [link removed] ]. Prepopulated reports are expected to be released on April 1, 2023.

Populations over 250K or local governments that received more than $10 Million LFRF (to include NEUs receiving more than $10 million):  


* The next Project and Expenditure Report will be due* the last day of the following month after the current quarter ends*.  

 

Upcoming reports for Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF) recipients include: 

 

Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund recipients:  


* For eligible entities that applied for funding *and received their allocation prior to December 31, 2022*, the first Obligation and Expenditure report will be due on *March 31, 2023*.  

 

The US Treasury Office of Recovery Programs Contact Center can provide assistance to entities with questions about reporting. Treasury continues to encourage recipients to use Self-Service Resources as the first step for all questions and inquiries. If questions cannot be resolved through these Self-Service Resources [ [link removed] ], recipients may reach out to the Contact Center for questions related to recovery programs as follows: 


* State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds: [email protected] or call (844) 529-9527
* Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency: [email protected] or call (844) 529-9527 

The Office of Recovery also stands ready to assist fund recipients with reporting questions. Reporting inquiries can be submitted on the form in the CONTACT US [ [link removed] ] section of the Office of Recovery website. 

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Updates to Services and Support
Services and Support
*COVID-19 Retail Storefront Property Tax Relief Funding is Still Available * 

In June 2022, bipartisan House Bill 2136 was signed into law, investing $50 million to help small businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Retail Storefront Property Tax Relief Program is still available to provide financial assistance to certain businesses impacted by COVID-19 related shutdowns and restrictions during tax years 2020 and 2021.    

The COVID-19 Retail Storefront Property Tax Relief Program is funded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which requires a federal Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) to be completed for a business to be eligible to receive assistance.  

The UEI is issued at no cost through the federal System for Award Management website, SAM.gov.  

Due to recent increases in the number of entities registering with SAM.gov [ [link removed] ], it may take up to 25 business days for new registrations to be processed.  

For any issues related to registering with SAM.gov or obtaining a UEI, applicants can contact the Federal Service Desk at 866-606-8220.   

Once registration is complete and confirmed, business owners can apply for the COVID-19 Retail Storefront Property Tax Relief Program through an online application [ [link removed] ] created by KDOR. The application provides definitions, explains the assistance process in detail, and specifies exactly what information must be provided and/or submitted in support of the application.  

Applicants with questions regarding the COVID-19 Retail Storefront Property Tax Relief Program can contact the Kansas Department of Revenue at 785-368-8660.    

Small business owners have until April 15, 2023, to apply for this financial assistance. 






Contact the RO

The Office of Recovery is here to offer support and coordination.  Questions and inquiries may be submitted via the Contact Us [ [link removed] ] form. Please visit covid.ks.gov [ [link removed] ] for up-to-date information and resources on recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic for Kansas residents, businesses, and communities.

*Question/Request Form* [ [link removed] ]


Warm Regards,

*The Office of Recovery*

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