COVID-19 Response and Recovery
Johnson County's COVID-19 Response and Recovery page provides insight into the County's pandemic response efforts. Information is provided on the use of Coronavirus Relief Funds, State Impact Funds, Emergency Rental Assistance Funds and the American Rescue Plan Funds.
We are committed to our economic recovery, supporting our social safety net, and repairing and improving our county infrastructure. The public will be able to follow our initiatives and expenditures through this site, to see how these programs are developed and how these investments will provide a positive impact to our community.
Please continue to visit this webpage for updates.
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319) is a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic challenges. First proposed on January 14, 2021, the package builds upon many of the measures in the CARES Act of 2020 and in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, including $350 billion in state and local aid, divided between non-county municipalities and counties through the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) to support immediate pandemic response, address economic fallout and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable recovery.
Johnson County Government was awarded $117,009,332 of SLFRF and received the first 50% payment of $58,504,666 on May 20, 2021.The County should receive the second 50% payment of $58,504,666 on May 20, 2022. Funds must be incurred by December 31, 2024 and expended by December 21, 2026.
The County is committed to utilizing the $117 million it will receive through this act in a bold, innovative, equitable manner. By listening to our residents, community partners, researching best practices and leveraging other resources, we will create impactful initiatives, investments and infrastructure improvements that will have long-term, measurable, and sustainable impact.
This project is being supported, in whole, or in part, by Federal Award Number (FAIN SLFRFP0226) awarded to the County of Johnson by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
We encourage you to visit the United States Treasury website for the Interim Final Rule, an informational Fact Sheet and Frequently Asked Questions.
The eligible uses for ARPA funding
Support public health expenditures, by, for example, funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral healthcare, and certain public health and safety staff
- Vaccination programs, testing, contact tracing and Personal Protective Equipment
- Enhancement of public health data programs
- Capital investments in public facilities to meet pandemic operational needs
- Services to address behavioral healthcare needs such as mental health treatment, substance use, crisis intervention
- Payroll and covered benefits expenses
Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, including economic harm to workers, households, small businesses, impacted industries, and the public sector
- Aid to workers and families for food, housing or other financial insecurity
- Supporting small business through grants, loans and counseling programs
- Speeding the recovery of tourism, travel and hospitality sectors
- Rebuilding public sector capacity
Serving the hardest-hit communities and families, in qualifying communities
- Addressing health disparities and the social determinants of health through community health workers, benefit navigators, lead remediation, violence intervention
- Investments in housing and neighborhoods through assistance to those experiencing homelessness, housing affordability programs and housing navigation assistance
- Addressing educational disparities through early learning services, afterschool programs, additional resources to high-poverty districts
- Promoting healthy childhood environments including new or expanded high quality childcare, home visitation programs
Replace lost public sector revenue, using this funding to provide government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue experienced due to the pandemic
Provide premium pay for essential workers, offering additional support to those who have and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical infrastructure sectors
Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, making necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, support vital wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and to expand access to broadband internet.
American Rescue Plan Funding Allocation
A preliminary Recovery Plan was presented to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) during a public meeting held on June 16, 2022. SLFRF programs will be authorized by the BOCC prior to any expenditure occurring using SLFRF funding. This Plan shall remain flexible and will be revised as needed, as additional guidance is received, information is obtained, and priorities may change. Expenditures will be evaluated and reported to the BOCC on a regular basis throughout the grant program period beginning March 03, 2021, and ending on December 31, 2024.
Detailed guidance on the use of ARPA funds from the U.S. Department of Treasury is still underway, and all expenses will be evaluated for further eligibility based on that guidance. The draft Plan below is based on initial guidelines.
Recovery Expenditure Plan Categories:
Public Health expenses to respond to and mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic include vaccination services, testing, contact tracing, payroll for public health and safety staff responding to COVID-19 and mental health services.
Negative Economic Impacts include providing household assistance to vulnerable populations most impacted by COVID-19 through food assistance programs, internet access programs, and aid to other impacted industries.
Service to Disproportionately Impacted Communities include expanding childcare programs and combating homelessness.
Infrastructure investments in water, wastewater, and stormwater projects.
Government Services include modernization of cyber security, environmental remediation, school or educational expenses, health services, and the provision of police, fire, and other public safety services.
Administrative expenses include grant management and consulting, auditing, and financial reporting services.
State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) Operating Summary:
Recovery Plan Performance Report
All states, territories, and metropolitan cities and counties with a population that exceeds 250,000 residents that are recipients of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) awards are required to produce a Recovery Plan Performance Report (the “Recovery Plan”).
The Recovery Plan provides information on the recipient’s projects and how they plan to ensure program outcomes are achieved in an effective and equitable manner. Johnson County’s Recovery Plan Performance Reports can be found at the links below.
August 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report
Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERA 1 & ERA 2)
Johnson County was awarded $32,835,735 in Federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Funds established by section 501 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. These funds are to provide financial assistance and housing stability services to eligible households. The County redirected the funds to the State of Kansas Housing Resources Corporation to administer the funds on the County’s behalf.
CARES Act Funding
On March 27, 2020, Congress passed and the president signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which established a new $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) for state, county, and municipal governments with populations of over 500,000 people to address necessary expenditures incurred due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
With an allocation of $116,311,033, the Johnson County Board of Commissioners accepted and approved programs to provide immediate relief to businesses, non-profits, food pantries and individuals in need across the County.
Johnson County’s CRF expenditures are detailed here and summarized below. The use of CRF funding has been extended through the end of 2021.
| Economic Impact Table | |
|---|---|
| Economic and Community Assistance | $52.5 million |
| County Operations | $52.5 million |
| Emergency Response and Public Health | $11.5 million |
Major funded initiatives include:
- Behavioral and Mental Health Program
- Childcare Assistance Program
- Combatting Homelessness Program
- Community Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Program
- Digital Access for Low-Income Families Program
- Emergency Rent and Utility Relief Program
- Food Pantry Assistance Program
- School District Support Program
- Small Business Grant Fund Program
- Vaccination Program
- Workforce Development Program
2021 Expenditure Reports:
The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) receives monthly updates on the spend down of funds.
State Impact Funding
On July 9, 2020, the Board of County Commissioners passed Resolution No. 041-20, accepting $7,977,835 from the State of Kansas Coronavirus Relief Funds through the State Impact Fund program. These funds were targeted towards supporting the County’s Community Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) program, COVID-19 testing services, and payroll for public health and safety employees substantially dedicated to mitigating COVID-19 in our community.
State impact funds by expenditure category:
- Personal Protective Equipment = $5.9M
- Payroll for Public Health and Safety Employees = $1.14M
- COVID-19 Testing = $935K
- Administrative Expenses = $4K
Community Impact
Johnson County’s use of the Coronavirus Relief Funds have had a positive impact in our community. The funds were targeted to provide an immediate economic response, improve community resilience and to serve our most vulnerable populations.
- Purchased 52,215,202 items of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including gloves, N95 respirators, surgical masks, face shields, gowns, coveralls, disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer.
- Provided emergency housing for homeless individuals that may be COVID-19 positive to prevent the virus from further spreading within our community.
- Supported Johnson County households at-risk for eviction or mortgage default and subsequent housing loss due to nonpayment through $3,112,500 awarded in rent, utility and mortgage assistance.
- Provided approximately $580,000 to 32 long-term care facilities to provide safe spaces and social distancing accommodations for elderly individuals to meet with friends and family to prevent social isolation.
- Assisted long-term care facilities by providing $2,850,000 in funding to purchase necessary rapid COVID-19 tests, PPE and sanitation supplies to ensure safe and healthy living conditions for employees and residents.
- Purchased over 200 tablets to provide technology to enable delivery of behavioral and mental health services via telehealth to Johnson County residents disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 currently having limited or no digital access.
Community Comment
Provided ~8,500 bags of food to elderly and vulnerable populations
“We coordinated delivery of 800 bags to various families within our community. All were extremely grateful, with several families moved to tears with gratitude at your generosity.” – College Church of the Nazarene Food Pantry
Improved mental health by combating social isolation through engaging in educational virtual programs
“Thank you ALL for organizing this for all of us stuck or sheltering at home. VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!”
“I can’t express enough how much I love this opportunity to learn, but to also stay home and be safe. Many, many thanks to you and your staff and all the volunteers!”
“Thanks so much for the uplifting program. It was really helpful and brightened my day.”
Provided 1,350 small business grants and 45 artist relief grants
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I feel so fortunate. If you read my application, you know I am ready to put this (grant) to good use and keep my son and myself on track. It’s a day-by-day task. Thank you for your part in helping to make this happen.”
“Thank you so much. I will watch for the final grant agreement. I appreciate the help Johnson County is offering.”
“Thank you so much for your email. I cannot begin to express the gratitude and relief I felt over the weekend upon receiving notification of the grant award.”
Johnson County filled requests from 1,381 organizations and distributed 4.2 million items of PPE.
We made 990 deliveries to hospitals, long-term care facilities and first responder agencies such as fire and police departments.
These supplies provided over 90,000 essential workers in Johnson County businesses and organizations a 90-day supply of PPE.