The Waterbury Community Services Investment Program (WCSIP) provides American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Relief Funds to nonprofit organizations in the City of Waterbury that were financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and are in need of “recovery.” The City has an opportunity to use these funds to make strategic investments by providing valuable resources to community nonprofits to help ensure a strong and equitable recovery from the pandemic and the ARPA dollars can aid in addressing some of these needs. 

THE PLANNING PROCESS

Providing for the WCSIP program will require several important steps, including community engagement and public input, consultation, a formal announcement, an application process, a review and selection process, a public hearing, and an approval process. These steps will be carried out through the City’s established planning process used to receive its federal entitlement grants from HUD. Using the City’s Citizen Participation Plan (CPP), as required under 24 CFR §91.105, as a guide, and leveraging the Citizens’ Advisory Committee (CAC) to help facilitate the process, will provide the necessary structure to ensure maximum citizen participation and funding priorities consistent with identified needs. For detailed information on the process, please see the WCSIP Planning Timeline.

ELIGIBILITY

Many of Waterbury’s community nonprofits are the backbone to the City’s recovery efforts and have been on the frontlines of the COVID efforts since March 2020. Nonprofit agencies working in the health and human services area are eligible candidates for this funding. Agencies able to demonstrate COVID-19 impact in need of assistance with recovery efforts are generally eligible under the WCSIP program.

ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES

In accordance with the ARPA, eligible activities must fit into one of five general categories. Nonprofit assistance falls into the eligible categories of responding to the public health and negative economic impact of the pandemic. As such, eligible activities under the WCSIP proposal would include, but not be limited to:

• programs and services responding to negative health and economic impacts from COVID-19;
• operational costs to help address increased demands for services due to the pandemic;
• the enhancement and improvement of the community service delivery system;
• short-term capital improvements, including information technology, HVAC systems, rehabilitation, etc.;
• recovery programs such as mental health services, crisis intervention, substance abuse; housing and homelessness assistance programs; and reentry programs.

In providing grants to nonprofits, the City should utilize its existing delivery channels for efficiency. The City should also ensure that grants to nonprofits be used for one-time recovery assistance and not to establish new programs or a reliance on ARPA assistance. Agreements should include a performance period and reporting requirements.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL/APPLICATION FOR FUNDING

Those organizations interested in applying for funds should download and complete an application beginning on Monday, October 3, 2022. Applications must be submitted to the Office of Community Development, Room C-29, City Hall, 235 Grand Street, Waterbury, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The application deadline is Friday, November 4, 2022.

Individuals and groups seeking more information, application assistance, or with general questions about ARPA can send their inquiries by email to waterburyarpa@waterburyct.org.
 

Watch a recording of the Waterbury ARPA Community Services Investment Community Meeting held on September 27, 2022: