Wyandotte County committee makes recommendations for spending $37 million in CARES Act funding

Note: The organizations and amounts of funding they receive were updated.

A Wyandotte County committee made recommendations for distributing $37 million in Phase 1 CARES Act funding today.

The committee met earlier today and discussed its recommendations, which will go to the full Unified Government Commission special meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10, for approval, according to Dave Reno, a UG spokesman. The full commission may accept or change the recommendations.

The federal funding went to local communities to pay for COVID-19 related expenses and to fund programs that address COVID-19 needs at the local level. The funds were given to the state of Kansas, which then allocated them to Wyandotte County and other local communities. Agencies will have until Dec. 31 to spend the funds, and they will have to make full reports and be monitored at the local and state levels.

The Wyandotte County committee divided the funding into three parts: $13,026,125 for health and CARES team, including the UG Health Department; $18,004,781 for the cities, including Bonner Springs and Edwardsville, and county COVID-19 expenses and programs; and $6,300,028 for education, nonprofit agencies and businesses.

Committee’s recommendations today

The Wyandotte County committee received more requests for funding than it did funding . The bulk of the funding was expected to go to the local governments and health agencies.

According to today’s committee meeting, a Zoom meeting available on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cityofkck/videos/633857727259538, several recommendations for funding were proposed.

According to Health Department officials, some of the agencies that stepped up early and provided health services without any reimbursement, especially smaller organizations, were prioritized. Some that received other large federal grants were not recommended for funding this time, according to officials.

Recommendations for health care related services included:
Turner House Clinic (Vibrant Health); KVC Hospitals; KVC Kansas; Cornerstones of Care; Swope Health Services – Wyandotte; Community Health Council of Wyandotte County; Mid-America Regional Council Community Services Corp.; Mercy and Truth Medical Missions; Children’s Mercy West Cordell Meeks Clinic; Wyandot Behavioral Health Network; Latino Health for All Coalition; Sharon Lee Family Health Care; and KC Digital Drive.

There were several recommendations made under nonprofit agencies, with the larger ones: the United Way of Greater Kansas City, $1.245 million; Avenue of Life, $660,000; Wyandotte Economic Development Council, $300,000; and Harvesters food bank, $300,000. Some of the amounts recommended were less than the amounts requested.

The BPU had requested $1.35 million, according to the committee’s documents, and it was originally proposed to receive $150,000 under the nonprofit category. On Friday, the committee changed that number to zero in the nonprofit category. Commissioners noted that the request probably belonged with the city of Kansas City, Kansas, category rather than the nonprofit category.

Alan Howze, deputy UG administrator, said the request was about utility assistance. It can be considered as part of the city request, he said. Commissioner Angela Markley said it was her opinion that utility assistance really needs to go through a third party agency, not a replacement of revenues for the BPU.

The committee took a roll call vote whether to ask the city administration to consider BPU’s application under the city’s application, and it was approved. Funds were then added to United Way and Avenue of Life to handle utility assistance requests.

Several more projects listed

According to the UG agenda for the Aug. 10 meeting, the UG Health Department is recommended to receive $12,569,265 for several projects. The agenda was posted on Friday, and information in it may be subject to changes made on Friday.

The projects listed for the UG Health Department included:

Postage, printing and digital advertising, $535,000.

Recruiting connectors and clients, print, mass media, social media, $150,000.

Community organization and advisory committee stipends, $20,000 per host site organization and stipends for community advisory board members, $258,000.

Contact tracing, supplies and incentives, $72,000.

Contracted staff, 90 connectors, 10 supervisors, 3 project managers, 1 project lead, $2,711,886.

Equipment and technology, equipment for live streaming, $11,562.

Lab processing, laboratory supplies and equipment, $1,392,081.

Mask campaign, media and professional services, $368,000.

Media broadcasting room, design, equipment and consulting, $150,000.

Operating, shared by United Way of Greater Kansas City and Community Health Council of Wyandotte County, $252,943.

Personnel, full time social media-outreach, $77,084.

Safety net clinic grants, $2,258,114.

Staff, contractual coordinators, $1,382,100.

Staff, contractual staff, July-December, $484,590.

Technology, laptops, surface pros, cell phones Apricot software, $251,840

Technology, computer, laptops, subscriptions, $99,965.

Testing, testing supplies and equipment, $871,100.

Testing campaign, media and professional services, $713,000.

Training materials, robust training for all connectors and host sites, $40,000.

Travel, mileage for staff, $200,000.

Vaccination prep, flu shot vaccine and supplies, $290,000.

Other medical:

Other allocations listed under the “medical” category included the Sharon Lee Family Health Care, $245,784 for direct COVID-19 care projects for drive-through testing and for support for a community COVID-19 phone line.

Children’s Mercy West – Cordell Meeks Clinic was reommended to receive $22,650 for drive-through pediatrict COVID-19 testing for symptomatic children after telehealth or in-person visits at Children’s Mercy WEst.

Wyandot Behavioral Health Network Inc. was recommended to receive $176,576 for reimbursements for expenses to purchase masks, gowns, goggles, cleaning supplies, disinfectant and equipment to protect staff and consumers from COVID-19. Also included are expenses to launch telehealth and remote work.

Swope Health Services – Wyandotte was recommended to receive $134,247 for COVID-19 testing at community sites, to renovate, equip and staff the COVID-19 clinic at the Bethany office building, and purchase three dental surgical handpieces to enable dentists to perform emergency extractions for patients in pain due to gaps in services caused by COVID-19.

Cornerstones of Care was recommended to receive $46,663 for personal protective equipment, implementing safety barriers, remote work modifications, social needs of residents including food, housing assistance, utility assistance and technology, among other items listed in the application.

Mid-America Regional Council Community Services Corp. was recommended to receive $250,000 for the Regional Public Health Testing and Tracing Plan, the Regional Coordination Hub and testing teams to supplement local public health at outbreak locations.

Community Health Council of Wyandotte County was recommended to receive $330,998 for outreach efforts to identify needs, through phone banks outreach and communication activities; a food delivery program and case management for those facing COVID-19 related evictions, especially those in quarantine and with a chronic condition; wellness check calls; delivery of fresh produce, cleaning supplies and shelf-stable food re resources to those with COVID-19 or at risk for COVID-19; and case management and referrals for new clients. Several other programs are listed.

Mercy and Truth Medical Missions was recommended to receive $580,115, for staff protection, supplies, outreach in the community, community care champion program, remediation, “3 in 1” clinic visits and protective infrastructure, or quarantine space.

KVC Kansas was recommended to receive $150,600 for personal protective equipment for employees to go into homes to visit children and their families. The PPE would be for employees, children and others present. The request is also for masks, gloves and hand sanitizer.

Latino Health for All Coalition was recommended to receive $131,916 to reimburse and extend the work of Juntos to provide services including participation in the Health Equity Task Force, resources and communication regarding COVID-19 testing in Wyandotte County. Several programs were listed, and also listed was two bilingual medical students from Juntos providing contact tracing with Spanish-speaking community members.

KC Digital Drive was recommended for $20,000 for personal protective equipment for the university and distribution within it for 200 departments.

Governments:

The city of Bonner Springs was recommended to receive $780,400 for public safety payroll COVID-19 leave reimbursements.

The city of Edwardsville was recommended to receive $449,400 to be used for reimbursements, remote access, City Council audiovisual improvements, MC health-safety upgrades, public messaging, Police Department booking room modifications, and ultraviolet light sterilizer.

Unified Government direct aid, Economic Development Department, $625,000, including loan funds for small businesses.

UG Finance Department, $1.5 million, mostly for Enterprise Resource Planning system for financial operations and human capital management.

UG Finance Department budget programs including software, $50,942.

UG Finance Department payroll, technology, $5,789.

UG Human Resources, technology, $27,904.

UG Knowledge Department, technology, information technology staff connectivity equipment and subscription licenses, $639,851.

UG Knowledge Department, remote work, software data, $279,000.

UG Knowledge Department, software upgrades, $446,861.

UG Legal Department, technology, mobile work stations, $36,333.

UG Municipal Court, staff personnel, technology for remote court, $61,311.

UG Parking Control, technology, mobile workstation for county employees, $3,657.

Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department, staff personnel, technology, transport of COVID individuals, $45,297.

UG Public Works administration, technology, laptops, printer, Surface Pro, $3,500.

UG Public Works Building and Logistics, building sterilization, kits, cleaning supplies, sanitation supplies, $1,171,850.

UG Public Works WPC, technology, $3,000.

UG Public Works, administration, call center support, phone upgrades, $25,000.

UG Public Works, fleet, equipment, sanitation spray, $2,950.

Wyandotte County Appraiser’s office, technology, remote working, $6,294.

Wyandotte County Community Corrections, personal protective equipment for employees with public interaction, distancing efforts, $10,229.

Wyandotte County Court Trustee, technology, $19,710.

Wyandotte County District Attorney, technology, mobile work stations, $39,213.

Wyandotte County District Court, technology equipment for county employees, $102,451.80.

UG Emergency Management, personal protective equipment for county employees, $3,396,135.

UG Finance – Treasury Office, staff to fulfill backlog of motor vehicle registration and titles due to shelter-in-place, closures, $17,600.

Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department, equipment for testing and EMS ambulance for COVID victims, personal protective equipment, positions for public safety, technology, $925,482.

UG Parks and Recreation, filtration system for community centers, public circulation air units, restroom filtration, resurfacing trails for social distancing, safer route to increase social distancing, sanitation practices, sanitation utility truck, vehicle to reach public areas, $2,866,000.

Wyandotte County Sheriff Department, equipment, misting system designed to reduce risks of infection by killing virus, bacteria and mold, technology, temperature screening stand monitor, $44,605.

UG Clerk – mailroom, confidential mail transport personal protection equipment, $1,521.

UG Clerk – record management, digitizing and archiving records technology equipment, $28,973.

Wyandotte County Museum, public virtual education programs, $4,397.

Board of Public Utilities, technology, $250,000.

CARES Act Response Team, administration, $453,521.

Educational funding:

Kansas State Research and Extension, $5,000 recommended, reimbursements for cleaning and disinfecting office, upgrading phone system, purchasing masks for staff and board members, laptop for receptionist-office professional, camera to do video recording for online education.

Kansas City, Kansas, Foundation for Excellence, $24,260, funds to underwrite internet access for students, in homes without access or homeless students, with software and web support for the organization.

PCs for People Kansas City (formerly Connecting for Good), $50,000, home computers plus wifi adapters, mobile hotspot and three months of internet service for 200 families living in northeast Wyandotte County Housing Authority communities.

Donnelly College, $160,000, reimbursement for health and sanitation equipment and supplies, personal protective equipment and safety barriers as people returned to campus in May, expenses for additional software and technology support to help transition to distance learning, and staff to working remotely for the last part of the spring semester. Also, direct aid funds requested for second-tier response to ensure the college has technological infrastructure and equipment in place to continue serving students if the pandemic forces them to return to full remote operations and distance learning during the fall. Also, funding for staff to check temperatures and provide masks for visitors and contact tracing in the fall.

Turner Public Schools, $130,000, funding for personal protective equipoment for staff and students, face masks and face shields, no-touch thermometers, electrostatic sprayers for disinfecting buses and buildings, creating barriers at buildings, signs for social distancing, software for remote learning, technology equipment for remote learning, two staff members to substitute when staff are out because of COVID-19, professional development on instructing faculty about remote learning, extra pay for substitutes to make sure classrooms are covered.

Stony Point Christian Church preschool, $1,411, personal protective equipment and sanitation supplies.

Bonner Springs – Edwardsville Public Schools, $56,000. A program Screencastify used in K-12, Lalilo, used in grades K-2 for language arts, and eSpark 3-5 used by grades 3-5 or language arts and math.

Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools, $580,000. There is a plan to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 for students and staff when school resumes in person. Face masks, sneeze guards, hand sanitizer dispensers, taking temperatures prior to entering the buildings.

The Urban Scholastic Center, $17,000, for the purchase of technology to allow for virtual work for the USC employees, as well as technology to provide support for electronic learning for students of the partner schools of the USC.

Piper School District, $380,000. To prepare for online learning, Piper purchased 250 teacher laptops and 900 student Chromebooks so everyone could work outside of school if needed. The district has purchased wifi hotspots to rent to families that do not have internet connections. Piper has purchased Edgenuity and Canvas online curriculum resources for online learning.

Groundwork Northeast Revitalization Group, $22,000, funding to support an administrative assistant and youth program coordinator position, a temporary COVID-19 communications coordinator, and also technology and micro-incentives to support distance learning for youth programs and projects. It also includes a reimbursement request for a food drive the organization held in June.

Kansas City Kansas Community College, $900,000. Information not available.

Uncle Sam’s Academy for Tots, $7,500, reimbursement for personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies used in child care center, which otherwise would not have been purchased.

University of Kansas Medical Center, $50,000. Funds will support the School of Nursing and the School of Health Professions. Also, student support organization funding is planned. The funds go to the expenses of making a transition to remote learning.

University of Kansas Medical Center, $150,000. Funds will be used to purchase devices, equipment and software to better implement remote learning.

Not-for-profit organizations:

Community Housing of Wyandotte County, $100,000 recommended.

United Way of Greater Kansas City, $1,245,000 recommended.

Kansas City, Kansas, West Kiwanis Foundation, $5,778.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, neighborhood pantry and breakfast, $18,863.

Young Women on the Move, $20,000.

Youthfront, $50,000.

KC Healthy Kids, $36,750.

Bethel Neighborhood Center, $50,000.

Choice Health Services, $35,000.

La Familia Dean Lozoya Foundation, $25,000.

Argentine Neighborhood Development Association, $45,289.

Avenue of Life, $660,014.

Mt. Carmel Redevelopment Corp, $38,000.

Fellowship Christian Church, $18,000.

Harvesters, $300,000.

Cross-Lines Community Outreach, $45,000.

Keeler Women’s Center, $4,001.

Giving the Basics, $48,000.

Dotte Local Grocer (fiscally sponsored by Groundwork NRG), $40,000.

Mr. Carmel Church of God in Christ, $8,000.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City, $33,000.

Wyandotte Economic Development Council, $350,000.

The Family Conservancy, $275,000.

Guiding Star Missionary Baptist Church, $4,439.

Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, $10,000.

Urban Scholastic Center, $20,000.

NBC Community Development Corp., $18,000.

Hillcrest Ministries of MidAmerica (Hillcrest Transitional Housing), $60,000.

The Farm School at Gibbs Road, $20,000.

Young Women on the Move, $10,000.

Police Athletic League of Kansas City, Kansas, $13,000.

Kansas City Dream Center Co., $30,000.

KCK Alcohol Safety Action Project, $10,000.

Kansas City, Kansas, Chamber of Commerce, $16,000.

Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, $90,000.

Due West Therapeutic Riding Center, $2,500.

UG Commissioner Angela Markley is the chair of the committee, and members included Commssioner Melissa Bynum, Commissioner Jane Philbrook, Maureen Mahoney, chief of staff with the mayor’s office; Michael Webb, city manager, Edwardsville; Matthew Zayas, assistant to the city manager of Bonner Springs; Alan Howze, UG assistant county administrator; Kathleen VonAchen, UG chief financial officer; and Juliann Van Liew, UG Health Department director.

Next phase of CARES Act funding to start taking applications on Aug. 19

Business funding now will be in Phase 2 of the CARES Act funding, which will be handled by the Kansas Department of Commerce, with an application online. Businesses and organizations will be able to apply for Kansas SPARK economic development and broadband grants starting at noon Wednesday, Aug. 19, at kansascommerce.gov/covidrelief.

Reno said the Kansas Department of Commerce will conduct Phase 2 of the CARES Act funding, and there will be an application form on the state commerce department’s website.

That phase will have a total of $314 million available statewide, he said. Of that amount, $74 million will be available for education. There will not be a specific dollar amount for Wyandotte County, he added.

“The Phase 2 funding is far more robust for economic development and business,” Reno said. The amount available for businesses statewide will be $78 million, he said.

He strongly encouraged any businesses in Wyandotte County that were interested in receiving federal funds to put in an application through the state Department of Commerce website on Aug. 19 and later.

These will be separate applications. If the business has already made an application in Phase 1 in Wyandotte County and wants to make an application in Phase 2, the business will have to put in a separate application at the state level, he added.

If a nonprofit organization has a plan, project or idea that would generate economic activity, he would encourage them to apply to the Phase 2 program at the state Department of Commerce, he said. Primary categories at the state level in the economic development portion of the funding would include business retention, food-related, and workforce training and re-entry, and if a nonprofit provides services in those categories, he would encourage them to apply, he said.

The categories and amounts for Phase 2, which are statewide, include public health, $100 million; economic development and businesses, $78 million; connectivity (high-speed internet), $60 million; and education, $74 million.