American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

On February 17, 2009 President Obama signed into law the America Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) “to promote economic recovery, increase economic efficiency while preserving and creating jobs, investment in infrastructures, and assisting those impacted by the recession”. In response, County departments are actively seeking funding opportunities to expand upon those efforts.

Below is an update of our efforts in the recovery process. As we continue to receive funding awards and opportunities, this information will be updated to reflect the dollars Cabarrus County receives.

Award News & Updates

• To improve energy efficiency, the ARRA released $5 billion in funding for weatherization. Community Development has been awarded $119,425, the first installment of the Weatherization ARRA funding program, for weatherizing homes of low–income families. The funding will support insulation, sealing leaks, modernizing heat and air conditioning equipment, and other energy efficient related projects.
  
  
• Through the Department of Aging Title V Stimulus ARRA Funds Program for “green” services, energy efficiency, etc., Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)/Recycling was approved a Title V position to work approximately 20 hours per week. The position will be responsible for maintaining HHW collection site areas, sort used batteries to ship for recycling, drain oil and antifreeze bottles into larger tanks destined for recycling, assist with customer phone calls, assist with handling discarded paint and overseeing the paint swap building. The commitment for Waste Reduction would be $0.725/ hour or about $180 per quarter. Stimulus funding will cover the balance of the $7.25 hourly rate, or $6,786 annually.
  
  
• $74,676 in funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant funds will support eight (8) new temporary part–time positions within the Department of Aging Title V Employee Training Program. This funding will provide subsidized employment training opportunities, enhance placement in unsubsidized employment, as well as other support services for low–income individuals who are 55 years of age or older.
  
  
• The U.S. Administration of Aging awarded the Department of Aging $24,341 to address critical nutrition services to local area residents within the Elderly Nutrition Program.
  
  
• Department of Social Services has been allocated $115,951 in ARRA funding for the Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) program. The first allotment, $57,668, covered the cost of two (2) permanent Income Maintenance Caseworker II positions and provide temporary clerical staff for the remainder of fiscal year 2009, ending June 30, 2009 to process applications and manage ongoing cases in the FNS program. Beginning October 1, 2009 Cabarrus County will receive a second allotment, $58,283, to fully support the two (2) caseworker positions until approximately June 5, 2010 at which point the County would resume a 50% cost share.
  
  
• Transportation was approved $385,098 in ARRA funding for preventative maintenance and equipment. The funding will cover the cost of an automatic vehicle location (GPS), mobile data devices, automatic chains, and preventative maintenance for twenty-four (24) vehicles. Additionally, one (1) year salary, excluding benefits, of the current Transportation Supervisor will be funded through this allocation of stimulus dollars.

Recovery Awards for Cabarrus County