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File #: 23-0170    Version: 1
Type: Consent Item Status: Agenda Ready
File created: 11/18/2022 In control: Board of County Commissioners
On agenda: 12/6/2022 Final action:
Title: American Rescue Plan - State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - Pilot Project Work Plan, Budget amendment, Ranking and Award for RFP 22-336 Energy Efficiency and Weatherization of Affordable Housing Grant Program Management Services: Pilot Program, a project using ARPA funds for COVID-19 recovery for the Sustainability, Equity, Economic and Strategic Development Department.(ARP2021x012)
Attachments: 1. CONTRACT #13418 Rebuild - ARPA-signed.pdf, 2. WORK PLAN PILOT Rental EE SLFRF.docx.pdf, 3. INTENT TO AWARD (ITA) 22-336 RFP Energy Efficiency and Weatherization of Affordable Housing Grant.pdf, 4. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 22-336 RFP Energy Efficiency and Weatherization of Affordable Housing Grant.pdf, 5. BA - ARP2021x012.pdf
Related files: 21-0757
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Agenda Item Name:

Title

American Rescue Plan - State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - Pilot Project Work Plan, Budget amendment, Ranking and Award for RFP 22-336 Energy Efficiency and Weatherization of Affordable Housing Grant Program Management Services: Pilot Program, a project using ARPA funds for COVID-19 recovery for the Sustainability, Equity, Economic and Strategic Development Department.(ARP2021x012)

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Presenter:

Betsy Riley, 352.264.6908/Larry Sapp, 352.374.5202

 

Description:

Pilot Project Work Plan, Budget Amendment, Ranking and Award of RFP 22-336 Energy Efficiency and Weatherization of Affordable Housing Grant Program Management Services:

 

1.                     Rebuilding Together North Central Florida

 

Recommended Action:

Recommended Action

Approve the Pilot Project Work Plan, Budget Amendment, Ranking, Award of RFP 22-336 Energy Efficiency and Weatherization of Affordable Housing Grant Program Management Services and Agreement #13418 to Rebuilding Together North Central Florida and authorize the Chair to sign the agreement. Authorize the County manager to sign any required contract amendments or reports required by the ARPA grant pertaining to this project.

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Prior Board Motions:

June 22, 2021 - American Rescue Plan - State and Local Fiscal Revenue Recovery Funds

Fiscal Consideration: $26,129,224.50 has been received from the U.S. Treasury. The County has $3 million in American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funding budgeted for this program. Out of these funds, up to $15,000 per building unit is available for eligible rental property owners within the unincorporated areas of Alachua County and smaller municipalities.

                     

August 24, 2021 - Commissioner Alford directs staff as follows, which are reflected in the proposed pilot project submitted for approval:

                     Time frames for affordability lien changed to 3 years for less than $5000, 5 years for $5,000 to $10,000, 7 years for $10,000 to $15,000

                     Include landlords/property managers and have a workshop to educate them on the program and allow them to provide feedback. (Completed 9/27/2021)

                     Authorize staff to recommend a pilot program that will include some of the small towns, something on the eastside, and one of the SWAG neighborhoods.

                     Include an administrative fee or penalty of at least 10% if the grant is paid back early.

                     Identify data collection points in order to track outcomes for the renters in the program.

                     Limit the pilot program to a maximum of $500,000

 

March 1, 2022 - Commissioner Prizzia moves to adopt 50% of Area Mean Income (AMI) as the definition of low income. Motion carries 5-0.

 

March 1, 2022 - Commissioner Cornell moves to approve the Energy Efficiency and Affordable Housing Grant Pilot Program and direct staff to issue the Solicitation of Interest and bring back all ARPA program documentation and related budget amendments. Motion carries 5-0.

 

Fiscal Consideration:

Fiscal Consideration

$337,468.21 allocation from ARPA - SLFRF. Personnel and data collection services transferring to sub-recipient ($142,693.21) for pilot project ending March 2023. Energy upgrades and direct contracted work expensed directly to SEEDS program office for payment (estimated $194,775 by August 2023).

 

234.00.0064.554.82.15 and 83.00 Project # ARP2021x012

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Strategic Guide:Strategic Guide

Housing

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Background:

In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Federal government has provided the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (ACBoCC) funding through the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. Many disenfranchised and marginalized communities were disproportionately impacted in their ability to find and maintain affordable housing due to job loss and other income insecurities caused by COVID-19. This project brings affordable housing relief to communities with limited financial resources by addressing the high costs of utilities on renters through energy efficiency improvements and weatherization. For these residents, affordability struggles are compounded by differing incentives between the renters who pay utilities and the landlords with the ability to make energy-saving improvements.

Uses of Funds

The ACBoCC will allocate $3 million over four years for weatherization improvements for qualifying households, designed to combat energy insecurity in the county. The Energy Efficiency & Weatherization of Affordable Housing program will run from December 2022 through December 2026 and is targeted to communities that have experienced COVID-based inequities per Treasury guidance under Negative Economic Impacts (EC 2), found in §35.6 Part (b)(3)(ii)(A)(1) of the Final Rule: “Assistance for food; emergency housing needs; burials, home repairs, or weatherization; internet access or digital literacy; cash assistance; and assistance accessing public benefits…” [emphasis ours].

Utility rates are set to increase in the coming years, with price hikes ranging from a 3% annual electrical cost increase from GRU until 2027, to a 13% increase for Duke Energy customers in 2023 alone. Rising energy prices are poised to drop more Alachua County residents into energy insecurity. The primary driver of energy use is weather-related, with air conditioning being the single largest reason behind electrical consumption. Alachua County’s The Energy Efficiency & Weatherization of Affordable Housing Program is designed to address a gap in the county’s affordable housing programming by 1.) addressing high utility rates for residents of the county, and 2.) by focusing on rental housing, which traditionally serves as homes for lower income residents, and who have little or no ability or incentive to make energy efficiency improvements to their homes due to lease restrictions.

To ensure upgraded housing remains affordable, participating landlords will be required to commit to not increasing their rental rates beyond inflation (as calculated by the Consumer Price Index) for a length of time determined by the amount of award they accept, according to the following guidelines:

Award Amount

Term of Affordability Commitment

Up to $5000

3 years

$5001 to $10,000

5 years

$10,001 to $15,000

7 years

 

Program Goals, Awareness, Access, and Distribution

Goals:  This proposal targets utility-based affordable housing costs in Qualified Census Tracts (QCTs), census tracts which meet the ARPA eligibility criteria of the average median income being 185% of the Federal Poverty Guideline or lower, or individual renting families outside these census tracts who received a qualified form of government assistance or who make less than 50% of the Area Median Income for a household of three.

The pilot program seeks to meet the following goals:

                     Test program work plan and subrecipient agreement to determine if alterations or amendments are needed for the smooth functioning of the full program

                     Collect data to determine whether program is sufficiently reaching Alachua County residents with an equity lens, and to allow adjustments to outreach plan as needed

                     Reduce energy insecurity in Alachua County, particularly for the most vulnerable residents. Residents served by the energy efficiency program will be from marginalized communities hardest hit by COVID-19. These residents include low-income, elderly, youth, and housing-insecure populations, and will reflect a broad racial and ethnic demographic.

                     Promote affordable housing by addressing the largest household expense after rent payments.

                     Build climate resiliency and energy independence in traditionally underserved areas by reducing the burden on energy infrastructure.

Awareness: Sub-recipient has an established, successful record of community outreach, including attending community meetings, operating a social media outreach campaign, and canvassing eligible neighborhoods. In addition, this program’s roll-out will overlap in part with Alachua County’s roll-out of new energy efficiency standards for rental units and outreach will be conducted directly with affected parties.

Access and Distribution: Eligibility criteria have been streamlined (as allowed by the ARPA Final Rule) to maximize eligible participants while minimizing the administrative burden on This includes identifying entire Census tracts which qualify for participation under ARPA guidelines and using existing data collection technologies already employed by Alachua County’s sub-recipient.

Outcomes:

                     Reduce energy burden for at least 15 energy insecure rental households (pilot program only)

                     Avoid energy insecurity health impacts and COVID hospitalizations due to lack of access to (or an inability to maintain) quality, affordable housing

Rebuilding Together North Central Florida and the Community Weatherization Coalition (CWC) currently have methods in place which track participant demographics including age, race, ethnicity, and other dimensions such as income level, number of people per household, and veteran or disability status. This information is key to the pilot project’s success metrics and will be used to inform our final program implementation in order to ensure that our outreach efforts are reaching all of Alachua County.

RFP 22-336 Energy Efficiency and Weatherization of Affordable Housing Grant Program Management Services was advertised on April 11, 2022.  The deadline for receipt of RFP 22-336 Energy Efficiency and Weatherization of Affordable Housing Grant Program Management Services was May 11, 2022, one (1) vendor responded.