American Rescue Plan Act

The state has reimbursed the City for this loan.

Background: To address housing needs, Council granted an emergency ARPA loan to Human Solutions to save affordable housing provided by the Aldercrest Apartments. The funding agreement allows Human Solutions to purchase, renovate, and develop 68 permanently affordable housing units.

• Economic development strategy to attract retail and commercial investment in Downtown, Civic Neighborhood and future Pleasant Valley areas.
• Development of required Urban Renewal Plan related to the creation of a potential new district that would include the Civic Neighborhood and Downtown areas.

• Awarded 80 small businesses grants to ease pandemic-related financial impacts on businesses.
• Fifty percent of the pool was reserved for state-certified women, minority, veteran and emerging businesses. 

Reimbursement for personal protection equipment and supplies for staff providing public services for the community during the pandemic. 

Awarded funding for nonprofit organizations to provide services to community members negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With a focus on individuals who may be especially susceptible.

2022 ARPA Community Assistance Grant recipients

• Birch Community Services – Freezer expansion to store and distribute food: $30,000
• Boxes of Love – Supporting Gresham’s most vulnerable infants/children in foster care system: $30,000
• Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce – Tourism/marketing Gresham: $30,000
• Gresham Historical Society – Gresham public history program: $30,000
• Kefi Care Programs – Day programs and care for developmental/intellectual disability clients: $30,000
• Latino Network – COVID-19 response wraparound support: $30,000
• Meals on Wheels People – Meals 4 Kids: $30,000
• MetroEast Community Media – Mobile media innovation lab and digital literacy: $30,000
• My Father’s House – “The Journey” job training program for people with low incomes: $30,000
• Rockwood CDC – Rockwood English Language Institute for immigrant communities: $20,000
• Slavic Community Center – Language-specific support for Slavic community in Gresham offering utility and cultural food assistance: $30,000
• WomensFirst Transition and Referral Center – Serving women and the BIPOC community who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19: $30,000 

• New HVAC systems to improve air quality.
• Safety assessments and immediate improvements to stations.
• Seismically stable training tower to replace 50-years plus, unsafe structure.

Food Insecurity Grant instructions and application  

The City’s ARPA Community Assistance Grant Program grants funding for qualifying nonprofits to provide increased food security to families and individuals accessing community food pantries.

Application deadline closed: Monday, April 8, 5:00 pm

Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.

Grant details 

• Funded through Gresham’s ARPA allocation for a total of $150,000. 
• Individual grants not to exceed $30,000. 

Eligibility 

• Project applicants must be a non-profit organization including faith based/religious organizations, charitable organizations with 501(c)(3) IRS status or business associations with a 501(c)(6) IRS status.
• Projects must be directly related to food assistance. Preference will be given to applications that provide direct assistance to individuals. 

Rules 

• All grant applications must clearly and concisely identify the need, or the negative impact caused by COVID-19 and demonstrate how the funds will be put to use to address that need.  
• Grants are intended for new projects or to allow for additional services to be offered, rather than supplementing existing operational costs. 
• Projects must serve residents within the city of Gresham. 
• Application must demonstrate financial need. 
• All grant awards will be consistent with ARPA requirements, including guidelines set by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Grantees will enter into grant agreements with the City and will be subject to City and ARPA reporting and audit requirements. Contracts must be executed by April 30, 2024, or grant may be forfeited. 
• The grant funds are not intended to replace other federal, state, county or local ARPA assistance; applicants may not receive grant funding for project expenses that were funded through other federal, state or local grants. 
• All funds must be obligated by Dec. 24. 
• The grantee will be considered a subrecipient of federal funds and will be required to submit quarterly reports as well as a completion report. The grantee will need to provide their federal UEI number, which can be obtained through SAM.gov. The grantee must submit the City’s provided completion report within thirty days of completing the grant project/program. Failure to submit a completion report or fulfill any of the stated requirements may result in disqualification from future City grants. 
• The City will make grants available without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, political affiliation or other protected class. 

What is not funded 

• Direct grants to individuals. All grants must be to a non-profit organization. 
• Costs incurred before the start of the funded project. 
• Capital expenditures above $2,000; real estate purchases; facility or property construction; renovation or repair costs; purchase of equipment related to general operations (such as air conditioning, electrical or communication systems, vehicles or office equipment); staff salaries or administrative costs. 
• Applications to reduce existing deficits. 
• Activities outside Gresham city limits. 
• Projects or activities that are primarily religious in nature.  

Application process 

1. Application: Eligible non-profits complete an application.  
2. Screening: City staff will screen applications for demonstrated eligibility to receive ARPA funding and ability to comply with all federal and treasury guidelines. Applications that do not meet ARPA eligibility guidelines and/or goals will be eliminated. Applications deemed incomplete will be given a due date to provide missing items. If the due date is not met, the application will be rejected. 
3. Review: The City reserves the right to directly award the grants or convene a committee to award. 
4. Award: The City will enter into grant agreements in an amount up to $30,000 per grantee. 
5. Contractual agreement, funding and reporting: The grant agreement with will outline general grant obligations and reporting requirements, and will include, but is not limited to general legal principles, reporting, access to financial records, audit provisions, and federal single audit compliance. 

Contact Anna Snyder at Anna.Snyder@GreshamOregon.gov. 

• Expanded the Homeless Services team.
• Hired a limited-term housing resources coordinator to connect residents to resources.
• Included a modest amount of administrative support for nonprofits with City contracts.

• Provided resources to Human Resources to better manage employee and labor relations.
• Resources to complete implementation of the City's core financial, human resources and community services system.
• Temporary outreach assistance related to the adopted Financial Road Map.

• Allocated $4.5 million to fill the projected gap between revenue and expenses for the City's fiscal year 2022/23 and 2023/24 budgets.
• Provided a one-time retention bonus in recognition of service to the community during the pandemic.
• Granted a modest 3% of APRA funds to cover administrative costs of distributing these funds, following reporting requirements, and administering grant programs.

• Leveraged grant funding to complete Gradin Community Sports Park to provide tournament-quality fields as well as playground, pickleball courts and dog park for neighbors.
• Leveraged a potential grant and other funding sources to build an undeveloped park for the community.
• Wy'East Way partial trail improvements funds. To build a safer pedestrian connection along the trail and connect the Civic and Downtown neighborhoods.
• Completed gap in Gresham-Fairview trail between Sandy Boulevard and Halsey Street, improving safety along a high-crash street. A Metro grant covered 85% of the cost; ARPA funds provided a small match required by the grant.

City Council approved:

• Hiring incentives for Police officers and six non-sworn Police positions to address the rise in violent crime across the region.
• Safety equipment and training.
• Adding four firefighter-paramedic limited-term positions.
• Fire Department COVID-19 related overtime during the pandemic.
• Police Community Safety Specialists, trained civilian positions who can handle non-violent police calls, such as property crime reports, directing traffic and community relations.
• Twenty-four Police community safety missions to reduce gun violence and vehicle theft.
• Temporary grant writing support to secure more outside funding.
• Community violence interventions including updated gun violence mapping.
• Cardiac equipment.

• Update the 2002 Pleasant Valley 2002 concept plan.
• Update the Comprehensive plan. 
• Develop a community center feasibility study.

• To finish replacing all City computers, which are out of warranty and contributing to slow and inefficient operations.
• To complete a mandatory upgrade for critical mapping services for utilities.

More funding to meet a higher need for utility bill help while the community recovers from the pandemic.

To address public safety, Council granted ARPA funding to focus on the rise in violence our community has experienced the past year. Funds will primarily go to culturally specific community-based organizations that specialize in providing services for youth and young adults in Gresham. Includes support for more positive recreational and social engagement activities.