Lakewood ARPA Program

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

February 21, 2022:

The Lakewood City Council contributes $1,000,000 in funding for the Living Access Support Alliance (LASA) Gravelly Lake Commons affordable housing project.

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.

December 5th, 2022:

The Lakewood City Council awards funding for three projects submitted in response to the ARPA program RFPs created on September 24th.

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.

Click here to visit the Emergency Food Network website

October 17th, 2022:

The Lakewood ARPA program RFP application period is now closed.

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.

September 24th, 2022:

The City of Lakewood creates three ARPA program RFPs.

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:

June 1st, 2022:

Lakewood City Council held a retreat on May 31st, 2022 to discuss how to obligate the remaining $6.54 million of ARPA funds that the City has.

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.

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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.

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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?

Children’s Programs

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

City Hall Updates

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

Food Banks

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

Housing & Homelessness

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

Public Health

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

Public Safety

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

Workforce Development

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

ARPA Administrative Costs

Lakewood ARPA Program Administrative Indirect Costs

Lakewood’s projected indirect costs of administering the ARPA program.

Allocated: $ 688,312.00

Spent: $ 126,016.69

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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 contributes $1,000,000 to affordable housing in the City

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.

$144,543 for services to disproportionately impacted communities

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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.

Lakewood Residents were asked what they would spend $13.7M on to respond to the COVID-19 emergency.
Community Groups, Non-Profits, Businesses, and other stakeholders were asked how they would like to see emergency funding spent.

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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:

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