[OMS_MANAGERS] Recording, PPT, links from today's Mornings on Main call

[Shawn Irvine]

General organizational funding probably won't be eligible.  Giving the organization funds to implement a business support program (technical assistance, grants, events that draw customers into businesses etc.) or downtown enhancement project (façade improvements, placemaking, planter boxes, etc.) probably would be eligible and the organization can and should keep a percentage to cover administration of the program.  You need to understand and express how your project(s) will benefit covid-impacted businesses (and business categories like restaurants and retail), which is  explicitly listed as an eligible expense in the ARPA guidance.  Make your proposal to the County the same way a contractor would.  We are asking for X dollars, which will get you xxx benefits to locally-owned downtown small businesses.  The money will be used to hire a business consultant to work with x businesses, subgranted to at least x businesses, used to purchase/build xxx which will enhance the appeal of the downtown and attract more customers, etc.

Personally I think you could justify using ARPA funds to hire a downtown manager that works to support local businesses impacted by COVID and enhance the built environment downtown, but that's not explicitly stated anywhere.  You would need to back into it, saying x businesses would be supported in these ways and the built environment would be enhanced in these ways, and to do that we need to hire a person who will coordinate and implement the work over a one year period.

Bottom line, the work that a Main Street org does is clearly eligible but you need to make sure you frame it within the context of what ARPA is allowed to fund.  After that it's all politics.

Hope that helps.

Shawn

From: OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> On Behalf Of Gold Beach
Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2022 4:52 PM
To: Oregon Main Street program managers <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
Subject: Re: [OMS_MANAGERS] Recording, PPT, links from today's Mornings on Main call

Hi there! We are going into a meeting with the County Commissioners here in Gold Beach tomorrow. Our county treasurer is saying that Gold Beach Main Street's project is not eligible for the ARPA funds. I was hoping to get some guidelines that show we are eligible. We are stressing a bit about this, and trying to combat any negativity.

Thanks!

Anna Curtis

On Feb 24, 2022, at 1:41 PM, STUART Sheri * OPRD <Sheri.STUART at oprd.oregon.gov<mailto:Sheri.STUART at oprd.oregon.gov>> wrote:

Thanks to all who joined the Mornings on Main call this morning with the update on federal funding sources by Kelly Humrichouser! Attached is a copy of the PPT. Below is a link to the recording and some useful links that Kelly shared:

Meeting recording: https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/ZwnzYvT9S_ECTcmMga5bcIW8kjU7z8LPdnIImxDhsdoaYzfrDW8zWNB6KWQXltc.U-vstngHQiXmQSb5 (Passcode: wHb?Z&s9)

Final Rule Overview: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/SLFRF-Final-Rule-Overview.pdf

Qualified Census Tract finder: https://us01.l.antigena.com/l/zQtzR8nkZZMrHZS9K19cjMjLuOfaRHHQdHCWoayG-2bOgq3-qfxNwc1Hgg1MHNDMBHJagPzaX9PQ4AcGi7~JeWPMhxaFgT3ZtiDDbMPyAmHB8yoO3u~a1zH3gWpAT59_aIin9KTKc~o6Zzn1tVp

Best, Sheri
<Oregon Main Street 2.23.22.pptx>

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