In response to the negative economic, health, and safety impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on local non-profit and business organizations, the County of Alameda is launching a new program, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Supervisorial District Community Needs Cash Aid Grants program. This new program will infuse much needed cash aid into the community and spur Alameda County’s economic recovery.

The County has allocated $3.1 million to each Supervisorial District for the ARPA Supervisorial District Community Needs Cash Aid Grants program with the goal that each Supervisorial District will provide cash aid grants that reflect the geographic and cultural diversity of Alameda County, prioritizing organizations operated by or serving populations and communities that were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Organizations that have experienced negative economic impacts caused by COVID-19 during the period March 1, 2020, to the present are eligible to apply for a cash aid grant under this program. Cash aid grants may be awarded beginning April 11, 2022, through September 30, 2024. Cash aid grants are subject to availability of funds within each Supervisorial District’s $3.1 million allocation, eligibility of applicants, and any other relevant factors.

Through the application process, applicants must demonstrate and attest to the harm and economic loss sustained by the organization due to the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications that are not adequately documented may be rejected. Additionally, not all worthy applications will necessarily be funded.

Eligible organizations may receive cash aid grants up to the maximum amount of $100,000 per Supervisorial District based on demonstrated and qualifying impacts. However, the total amount of cash aid grant funds awarded to an organization by the County as part of the ARPA Supervisorial District Community Needs Cash Aid Grants program cannot exceed the amount of the organization’s losses due to the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ARPA guidelines require that the cash aid grants be reasonably proportional to the negative economic impacts they are intended to address. Economic losses that were reimbursed through insurance or other sources cannot be used to qualify for a cash aid grant. Each applicant is required to provide the demographic makeup of the organization and basic demographic information about the population served as part of the completed application.

All Alameda County ARPA Supervisorial District Community Needs Cash Aid Grants must be approved by the Board of Supervisors at a regularly scheduled meeting. By submitting an application, the organization agrees to maintain and provide records to the County during the U.S. Treasury Department audit period and agrees to fully cooperate with any audit by the County, the Federal government or their designees. If through an audit, or any other means, the County or US Treasury Department determines that because of fraud, misinformation provided by an organization, or for any other reason, that a cash aid grant is not an allowable ARPA expense, the applicant must agree to reimburse the funds to the County.