On May 10th, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. ARPA provides $350 billion in emergency Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) for eligible state, local, territorial, and tribal governments to respond to the COVID-19 emergency.
The City of Lakewood is considered a metropolitan city and as such has been awarded $13,766,236 in ARPA funding. The funding received through ARPA must be obligated to projects by Dec. 31st, 2024. The funds must be spent by Dec. 31st, 2026.
As of June 1, 2022 the City of Lakewood has obligated $7,171,661 of ARPA funding to approved projects.
Tiffany Speir
ARPA Program Manager
(253) 983-7702
[email protected]
Available by phone and email:
Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Ted Thelin
ARPA Program Coordinator
(253) 983-7702
[email protected]
Available by phone and email:
Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For ARPA Applications, Program Information, and Subrecipient Technical Assistance:
Please use the links below for more information about applying for ARPA funding through the City of Lakewood and for ARPA program technical assistance to the subrecipients of Lakewood ARPA Funds:
Announcements
LASA:
Funding contribution towards completion of an affordable housing project
Conditional Award: $1,000,000
The Lakewood City Council conditionally awards $1,000,000 to LASA for the construction of the Gravelly Lake Commons affordable housing project. The award is conditional to the project being fully funded by December 31, 2023 and further resolution by Council.
ARPA Project Awards:
On November 28th, The Lakewood City Council reviewed responses to the September 24th ARPA program Request for Proposals. Three projects have been selected to receive ARPA funding from the City of Lakewood:
Nourish Pierce County:
Purchase and renovation of building for food bank operations
Award: $1,250,000
Conditional Award: $750,000
The Lakewood City Council (Council) awards $1,250,000 to Nourish Pierce County for the purchase and renovation of a building in Lakewood. The building will house a food bank and supportive services for clients.
Council also offers $750,000 in additional funding conditional to Nourish Pierce County successfully raising more funds.
Click here to visit the Nourish Pierce County website
Tacoma Rescue Mission:
Pierce County Community Village – Permanent Supportive Housing
Conditional Award: $1,000,000
Council offers $1,000,000 in conditional funding to the Tacoma Rescue Mission for the Pierce County Community Village permanent supportive housing project. The funding is conditional to Tacoma Rescue Mission successfully raising more funds.
Click here to visit the Tacoma Rescue Mission website
Click here for more information about Community Villages
Emergency Food Network:
Construction of a new Food Storage Warehouse
Award: $750,000
Conditional Award: $250,000
Council awards $750,000 to Emergency Food Network for the construction of a new food storage warehouse in Lakewood.
Council offers $250,000 in additional funding conditional to Emergency Food Network successfully raising more funds.
The application period for the City of Lakewood ARPA program RFPs: Construction of Low-Income Housing, Construction of Emergency Food Bank Capacity, and Construction of Housing and Shelter for Veterans has closed. Please check back for more information about future ARPA funding opportunities.
The City of Lakewood has created three ARPA program RFPs: Construction of Low-Income Housing, Construction of Emergency Food Bank Capacity, and Construction of Housing and Shelter for Veterans. The application period closes at 5:00pm on Monday, October 17th, 2022.
Construction of Housing Units Permanently Affordable to Low-Income Individuals and Families
Construction of Emergency Food Bank Capacity
Construction of Emergency Shelter/Transitional Housing for Veterans and Their Families
An informational session was held for applicants on Thursday, September 29:
As stated at the end of the meeting, the Council decided that it would adopt updated priorities for use of the remaining Lakewood ARPA funds in the near future. Once that process is completed, Lakewood will call for applications or responses to RFPs in keeping with those priorities.
The City Council is wanting to ensure that Lakewood’s remaining ARPA funds are spent on projects that will have a lasting and significant benefit to the City’s residents, and will conduct a new focused application process to do so. Once developed, the application requirements and forms will be provided on this webpage.
About the ARPA Program
Federal ARPA Funds
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 amends Title VI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) by adding the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) and allocates those funds to government entities (cities, municipalities, tribal governments, other government entities) by population.
State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has released information regarding State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) distribution to government entities and eligible uses for SLFRF funds.
The National League of Cities has published an ARPA tracker to provide information about how cities across the country allocate their ARPA funds.
City of Lakewood ARPA Ordinances
Lakewood Ordinance 759 approves the first round of ARPA projects to be funded by the City of Lakewood. Ordinance 759 was adopted by the City Council of the City of Lakewood on Sept 20th, 2021.
Lakewood Ordinance 761 adopts the 2021/2022 Biennial Budget, including revisions to incorporate the ARPA-funded programs adopted by the City Council on September 20th, 2021 via Ordinance 759
Lakewood Ordinance 763 establishes a Special Revenue Fund, “ARPA Fund” in the City’s budget. The City Council has determined that the creation of the ARPA Fund is in the best interest of the City by providing administrative efficiency, reporting, and transparency.
Lakewood ARPA Allocations
How much ARPA funding does Lakewood have?
The City of Lakewood was awarded $13,766,236 in ARPA funding. As of December 5th, 2022, $11,171,661.00 has been obligated to various departments and non-profit entities to provide Covid-19 relief measures to the public. All ARPA funds must be obligated by December 31st, 2024.
How are Lakewood’s ARPA funds allocated?


Boys & Girls Club Programming
The Lakewood Boys & Girls Club is running several youth mental health and social programs.
Allocated: $ 237,374.00
Spent: $ 9,748.99
Clover Park School District – Youth Mental Health Program
The Clover Park School District is providing mental health services and workshops for students and their families.
Allocated: $ 71,400.00
Spent: $ 41,299.04
Communities in Schools – Warriors of Change
Warriors of Change is a leadership development and project-based learning program which prepares students for next steps in schooling, career development, and beyond.
Allocated: $ 71,873.00
Spent: $ 34,170.00
Northwest Youth Corp Youth Employment Program
Northwest Youth Corp is running several youth employment and job-training programs.
Allocated: $ 88,200.00
Spent: $ 26,036.15
YMCA Summer Day Camp
This program funds a summer day camp program offered at the Lakewood YMCA.
Allocated: $ 409,500.00
Spent: $ 0.00
YMCA Little Learners Summer Learning Academies
This program funds an educational child care program at the Lakewood YMCA.
Allocated: $ 165,375.00
Spent: $ 15,562.34
YMCA Water Safety Classes
This program funds water safety classes at the Lakewood YMCA.
Allocated: $ 157,500.00
Spent: $ 0.00
YMCA Direct
This program covers other costs related to the programs provided at the Lakewood YMCA.
Allocated: $ 36,997.00
Spent: $ 0.00

Lakewood City Hall Reconfiguration Study
A study is being performed to reduce the physical footprint of Lakewood employees. Space made available through this study will be repurposed at a later date.
Allocated: $ 105,000.00
Spent: $ 59,013.39
Lakewood City Hall Reader Boards
This program will fund multi-function reader boards at Lakewood City Hall to better communicate information to people seeking services.
Allocated: $ 336,000.00
Spent: $ 0.00
Lakewood Municipal Court Technology Upgrade
This program updates technology within the Lakewood Municipal Court to provide more accessible court services.
Allocated: $ 141,750.00
Spent: $ 54,975.50
Lakewood City Website Multilingual Accessibility
The City of Lakewood website is being updated to provide more accessibility and better translation into commonly used languages.
Allocated: $ 36,750.00
Spent: $ 15,050.76

Nourish Pierce County – Building Purchase and Renovation Contribution
Nourish Pierce County needs more space for food bank operations in Lakewood. Lakewood’s ARPA funding contributes to their larger efforts to purchase and renovate a new space to better serve Lakewood residents.
Allocated: $ 1,250,000.00; $750,000 conditional
Spent: $ 0.00
Emergency Food Network – Warehouse Construction Contribution
Emergency Food Network is constructing a new warehouse to provide more services to residents of Lakewood. Lakewood’s ARPA funding contributes to their larger efforts to construct a new warehouse.
Allocated: $ 750,000; $250,000 conditional
Spent: $ 0.00

LIHI Comfort Inn Purchase – Aspen Court Emergency Shelter
The City of Lakewood, the City of Tacoma, and Pierce County pooled resources to purchase the Comfort Inn building on Hosmer Avenue. It has been converted to an emergency shelter and will become permanent supportive housing in the future. The City of Lakewood contributed $1,050,000.00 to this project. Included in the total contribution is a $700,000 bridge loan. The loan has been returned to the city.
Allocated: $ 1,050,000.00
Spent: $ 1,000,000.00
Bridge Loan Returned: -$700,000
Total Expenditure to date: $300,000
Habitat for Humanity – Boat Street Project
Habitat for Humanity is building homes in the Tillicum neighborhood. This project will provide updates to infrastructure on and around Boat Street in Tillicum to support new housing.
Allocated: $ 254,100.00
Spent: $ 0.00
Rebuilding Together South Sound (RTSS) – Rebuilding Healthy Neighborhoods
RTSS performs outreach in underserved communities to connect people with essential services like food banks and home repairs.
Allocated: $ 341,250.00
Spent: $ 0.00
Tacomaprobono Eviction Prevention Legal Services
Tacomaprobono provides provides free legal aid and direct representation to low-income tenants to address the negative economic impacts caused to households in Lakewood during the Covid-19 health emergency.
Allocated: $ 472,500.00
Spent: $ 128,610.19
Tacoma Rescue Mission – Pierce County Community Village
Tacoma Rescue Mission is overseeing the development of a Community Village. The community village will serve residents of Lakewood struggling with homelessness.
Click here for more information on community villages
Allocated: $ 1,000,000.00 conditional
Spent: $ 0.00

Lakewood Hand Washing Stations at City Parks
This program funds hand washing stations at city parks to combat the effects of the Covid-19 health emergency.
Allocated: $ 78,750.00
Spent: $ 0.00
Lakewood Human Resources Temporary Staffing for COVID-19 Tracing
This program funds the City of Lakewood Human Resources department’s Covid-19 tracing efforts.
Allocated: $ 30,360.00
Spent: $ 3,132.95
Lakewood City Hall HVAC Replacement
This program will upgrade the HVAC equipment at city hall to respond to the Covid-19 health emergency.
Allocated: $ 525,000.00
Spent: $ 5,145.51

Lakewood Police Department Retention Payments
One-time retention payments made to qualifying Lakewood Police Officers.
Allocated: $ 669,375.00
Spent: $ 607,500.00
Lakewood Police Department Body Camera Staff & Hardware Costs
This program funds equipment and setup costs related to the Lakewood Police Department Body Camera program.
Allocated: $ 102,904.00
Spent: $ 97,832.24
Lakewood Police Department Body Cameras Admin Costs
This program funds administrative costs related to the Lakewood Police Department Body Camera program.
Allocated: $ 206,245.00
Spent: $ 206,245.00
Emergency Services Advanced Warning System
This program funds translation services and technology upgrades related to emergency warning and alert systems.
Allocated: $ 13,998.00
Spent: $ 1,064.71
West Pierce Fire and Rescue – Emergency Communications Equipment
This project is funding updates to communications equipment used by West Pierce Fire and Rescue. This includes equipment for emergency communications as well as communications equipment for training and meetings.
Allocated: $ 241,500.00
Spent: $ 98,658.43

Career Team Workforce Central – Workforce Development Program
Career Team is running a workforce development program that includes outreach and events to connect workers and employers.
Allocated: $ 73,146.00
Spent: $ 0.00
Pierce County Business Accelerator Contribution
The Pierce County Business Accelerator provides direct access to business resources like training, coaching, technical assistance, and networking support to launch and grow micro businesses in Pierce County.
Allocated: $ 525,000.00
Spent: $ 462,720.00
Lakewood ARPA Project Highlights
Gravelly Lake Commons Housing Project
Lakewood contributes $1,000,000 bridge loan to the Living Access Support Alliance (LASA) to support an affordable housing project in Lakewood.
The project is located a the corner of Gravelly Lake Drive, 59th St SW, and Fairlawn Dr SW. The development includes 55 apartments targeted at people with incomes of 30%-60% of area median income (AMI). The low-income housing units include one-, two-, and three-bedroom units.
Lakewood Community Services Advisory Board
The City of Lakewood sets aside 1% of revenue annually for allocation to Community Services Advisory Board (CSAB) priority uses. This has been supplemented by ARPA funding. CSAB priorities for 2022 include youth mental health services and workforce training.

Community Engagement
In the Summer and Fall of 2021, the City reached out to community groups, cultural centers, members of the faith-based community, military and veteran-focused groups, school districts, businesses, chambers of commerce, utility providers, and citizens. People were asked how they felt emergency funding could be spent to help Lakewood and its citizens respond to the COVID-19 emergency.


For ARPA Applications, Program Information, and Subrecipient Technical Assistance:
Please use the links below for more information about applying for ARPA funding through the City of Lakewood and for ARPA program technical assistance to the subrecipients of Lakewood ARPA Funds: