American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)ARPA Resources

ARPA Resources

Required Documentation for Beneficiary Awards

Below is a list of required documentation for beneficiary award applications.  In general, all applicants will need to provide evidence they have experienced negative economic impacts due to COVID-19, or that COVID-19 has created an economic impact that makes this grant request necessary to support the ongoing operations of the organization. Examples of general documents that may be required for organizations, businesses, and agencies to provide proof include:

  • Last 2 fiscal years’ bank statements for the organization
  • Proof of Nonprofit status (if applicable)
    • Copy of IRS letter or certificate, verifying tax-exempt status
    • Copy of Annual IRS 990 Form
  • Federal Tax Identification Number
  • Current copy of IRS W-9 Tax Form
  • Copy of Tax Returns for the three most recent years
  • List of Board of Directors or business owners/partners
  • Articles of Incorporation (if applicable)
  • List of monetary and/or in-kind donations from the City of Scranton (if applicable)
  • Disclosure statement if Owner(s) hold greater than a 10% interest in the company/organization
  • Copies of invoices showing an increase in administration or program costs since March 3, 2021 (If applicable)
  • Past-due Mortgage/Rent Statements (If applicable)
  • Past-due utility bills (If applicable)
  • Evidence of reduced or inhibited fund-raising activities due to COVID-19 (if applicable)
  • Copies of invoices or evidence of COVID-19 related expenses incurred (if applicable)
  • Evidence of lost funds or income due to COVID-19 (if applicable)
  • If applying for funding for an eligible capital expenditure project, applicants will be required to fill out and send back “Beneficiary Award: Exhibit 2 Eligible Capital Expenditure Budget Sheet” with their application
  • If an applicant is approved for funding for an eligible capital expenditure, the applicant will be required to:
    • Provide evidence of and adhere to their own internal procurement policy or adhere to the City of Scranton’s procurement policy for purchasing goods, services, and/or supplies. The City’s procurement policy requires goods, services, and/or supply contracts over $21,900 to undergo a competitive sealed bidding process. It also requires that for goods, services, and/or supply contracts in the amount of $11,800 – $21,900, a minimum of three (3) written or telephonic price quotes are received, and the lowest, most responsible bidder be awarded.
    • Provide invoices or bills to substantiate final capital expenditure costs for reimbursement by the City

Required Documentation for Subrecipient Awards

For subrecipient program applications, the following documentation is required. In addition to this documentation, a full and complete application must be submitted detailing the program the applicant will implement on behalf of the City utilizing these funds, and how the applicant will track its performance and ensure all funds are expended prior to September 31, 2026, while adhering to the monitoring and reporting requirements of outlined in the Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200.

Non-Profit Organizations, Educational Catch-Up Grants, and Literacy/Finance Grants

  • Proof of Nonprofit status under section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code
    • Copy of IRS letter or certificate, verifying tax-exempt status
    • Copy of Annual IRS 990 Form
  • Federal Tax Identification Number
  • Current copy of IRS W-9 Tax Form
  • Copy of Tax Returns for the three most recent years
  • List of Board of Directors
  • Articles of Incorporation (if applicable)
  • List of monetary and/or in-kind donations from the City of Scranton (if applicable)
  • Completion of “Subrecipient Award: Exhibit 1 Eligible Service Program Budget Sheet” submitted with the application

DDAP Drug Overdoes Prevention, Behavior Health Response and Violence Prevention, and Wellness Programming

  • Proof of Nonprofit status under section 501(c)(3) (if applicable)
    • Copy of IRS letter or certificate, verifying tax-exempt status
    • Copy of Annual IRS 990 Form
  • Federal Tax Identification Number
  • Current copy of IRS W-9 Tax Form
  • Copy of Tax Returns for the three most recent years
  • List of Board of Directors
  • Articles of Incorporation (if applicable)
  • List of monetary and/or in-kind donations from the City of Scranton (if applicable)
  • Completion of “Subrecipient Award: Exhibit 1 Eligible Service Program Budget Sheet” submitted with the application

Affordable Childcare

  • Proof of current licensure
  • Federal Tax Identification Number
  • Current copy of IRS W-9 Tax Form
  • Proof of good standing with, and have a current Child Care Subsidy enrollment
  • Copy of Tax Returns for the three most recent years
  • List of Board of Directors
  • List of monetary and/or in-kind donations from the City of Scranton (if applicable)
  • Completion of “Subrecipient Award: Exhibit 1 Eligible Service Program Budget Sheet” submitted with the application

Small Businesses Grants and Wage Supplement Grants

  • Current W-9 form
  • Staffing documentation (W-3 Summary, IRS From 1096, IRS Form 941, Employee Roster, or Sole Proprietor Statement)
  • Active State Business Registration, local business registration/license, or other documentation
  • Proof that business has experienced a business disruption
  • Proof of Business physical location in Scranton (tax bill, utility bill, or other)
  • Proof of status on payroll taxes
  • Proof of status on sales and unemployment taxes
  • Proof of status on property taxes
  • Proof of status on Federal income taxes
  • Proof the business had 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees prior to March 3, 2021.
  • Proof the business was in operation on March 3, 2021, and if required paid income taxes to the state and federal government, as reported on individual or business tax returns

Small Businesses Start-up Expansion Funding

  • Business will be physically located within the City of Scranton
  • Completion of Small Business Assistance Eligibility Form – Start-up Expansion Section Only

First Time Homebuyer Program and Home Rehabilitation Programs

  • Proof of Nonprofit status under section 501(c)(3) (if applicable)
    • Copy of IRS letter or certificate, verifying tax-exempt status
    • Copy of Annual IRS 990 Form
  • Federal Tax Identification Number
  • Current copy of IRS W-9 Tax Form
  • Copy of Tax Returns for the three most recent years
  • List of Board of Directors
  • Articles of Incorporation
  • List of monetary and/or in-kind donations from the City of Scranton (if applicable)
  • Completion of “Subrecipient Award: Exhibit 1 Eligible Service Program Budget Sheet” submitted with the application

Generally Eligible Costs

  • Loss of earnings, the decline in revenues, or impacts of canceled fundraising events during periods of closure or limited operations due to COVID-19 public health orders.
  • Costs associated with the implementation of prevention or mitigation measures to contain the spread of the virus, such as physical changes to enable social distancing, enhanced cleaning efforts, barriers or partitions, or COVID-19 vaccination, testing, or contact tracing programs.
  • Reimbursement of expenses related to the organization’s response to the COVID-19 public health emergency such as payroll and benefits costs; costs to retain employees; mortgage, rent, or utility costs; and other related operating costs.
  • Funding for new programs designed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic or those designed to serve a population disparately impacted by the public health emergency and its economic impacts, such as lower-income households.
  • Funding for eligible capital expenditures.  To be eligible, capital expenditures must be detailed in the application and must directly respond to the pandemic and be proportional to the demonstrated impacted.  They must also serve or provide benefits to City Residents

Ineligible Costs

  • Loss that bears no relation or is grossly disproportionate to the type or extent of harm experienced due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
  • Contributions to rainy day funds, financial reserves, or similar funds.
  • Payment of interest or principal on outstanding debt instruments.
  • Inherently religious activities, such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytization and/or those that promote or inhibit religious interest.
  • Lobbying, support of candidates for public office, or other political activities.
  • Funding for programs, organizations, or capital expenditures that do not serve City of Scranton residents.
  • Economic hardship incurred outside of the period beginning March 3, 2021, and ending August 1, 2022
  • Expenses reimbursed or eligible for reimbursement through any other contract or agreement with the City, including but not limited to City Small Business Assistance previously administered or CARES Act funding
  • Programs, services, or capital expenditures that have already received, or intend to receive, alternate federal funding that would create a duplication of benefit.

Grant Period

Applicants may apply for funds to cover COVID-19 related economic loss or costs incurred during the period beginning March 3, 2021, and ending August 1, 2022. New programs and activities will typically be funded for programming beginning September 1, 2022, and ending on or before September 31, 2026.

Application Process

The City of Scranton ARPA grant program applications will be available through the City’s website at www.scrantonpa.gov from July 18, 2022, through December 1, 2022.  Late submissions will not be accepted.

The application packet must include the information listed below.

  • Completed Application
  • Completed Exhibit 1 (if submitting for a subrecipient award)
  • List of required documents per program

City and ARPA advisory staff are available to answer questions about the application requirements, eligible activities, or the funding process once the application is posted through the deadline. Please contact Christopher Hughes at chughes@scrantonpa.gov with questions.

Application Review Criteria

Award allocations will be based on the total number of applicants, completeness of applications, expense eligibility, organizational need, community benefit, and organizational operating budget size. No cash match is required.

Review panel members may consider the following factors in their evaluation:

  • Organization is a qualifying and eligible entity
  • Financial impact of COVID-19 is clear and demonstrated
  • Impact of other Federal, County, or City assistance received, alone or in comparison to other applicants
  • Need for financial assistance in order to remain operational
  • Fiscal and administrative capacity to administer the funding in compliance with requirements
  • Grant budget is provided, reasonable, and aligns with eligible expense categories
  • Alignment of the request with the City’s mission and vision
  • Impact the funding request will have on under-served groups and local community
  • If the applicant has received, or intends to receive, alternate funding from other federal or state sources for the same request
  • If the applicant has previously managed federal funds
  • Applicants’ quality of key performance indicators submitted to monitor
  • Anticipated long-term impact that funding will create
  • Applicants’ readiness to fund and capacity for implementation
  • Organization and program viability – will the program continue to be sustainable without continued funding support from the City of Scranton
  • Ability to fully expend funds by September 31, 2026
  • Other factors as deemed appropriate by the panel members

Application Timeline

The City anticipates the following schedule for reviewing submitted applications for the Non Profit Grants and determining  funding awards, information will follow for other funding opportunities:

July 14 and 15, 2022Information sessions and assistance for non-profits
July 18, 2022Release of application (Non-profit grants only)
August 12, 2022, 11:59 p.m.Non-profit grant application deadline
September 9, 2022Application review period
September 26, 2022Award determinations
October 1, 2022City staff begins drafting grant agreements
Some dates may be subject to change.

Affidavit, Waiver, and Release Form

All nonprofit, governmental, and business organizations offered a grant who choose to accept the grant will be required to sign a non-negotiable affidavit, waiver, and release form prior to payment being made. The affidavit will require the applicant to declare that all information contained in the application is true and correct and can be used as admissible evidence in any legal proceeding against the company if the City attempted to recoup any grant funds provided under false pretenses.

Agreement Requirement and Monitoring

Grant awards will be made in the form of an agreement executed between the applicant and the City. The grant period, scope, allowable budget, and reporting requirements will be outlined in a grant agreement between the applicant organization and the City. All awarded funds for new programming/activities must be expended no later than September 31, 2026. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in disqualification from future grant cycles.  Additional information may be required at the City’s discretion, based on the usage of funds.

Exit Report

An Exit Report will be required at the end of each grant agreement. Awardees must submit the Exit Report to the Office of Community Development by December 31, 2026. Failure to submit an Exit Report may result in disqualification from future grant cycles.

Program Contact

Please contact Christopher Hughes with all inquiries regarding the City of Scranton American Rescue Plan Act Grant Program Application via email at chughes@scrantonpa.gov.

Questions about the grant application for nonprofits that closes August 12 may also be addressed to grants@safdn.org.

Grant Applications

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