Report on the
Recovery
Act Funding
C.E.F.S. Economic
Opportunity Corporation administered millions in American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to provide people with needed assistance and new
jobs to jump start the economy during the economic recession. The work that was done through ARRA funding
helped bring families out of poverty and strengthen the local economic fabric
of our communities. The significant
funding increase represented by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
(ARRA) allowed the agency to work hard to insure that economic recovery got to
the local level and to Main Street where limited-income individuals and
families needed assistance the most. Our
work is not complete – we have a long road to go in these troubled economic
times and C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation remains committed to
providing the best possible services for the people in our service delivery
area to help lead the way to economic recovery.
Congress passed the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in a direct response to the economic crisis. The Recovery Act had three (3) immediate
goals: 1) to create new jobs and save existing ones, 2) spur economic activity
and invest in long-term growth, and 3) foster unprecedented levels of accountability
and transparency in government. While
many of the Recovery Act projects focused on immediately jumpstarting the
economy, there were many projects that will continue for many years.
The current crisis of unemployment is
devastating families all across America.
June’s unemployment rate revealed an overall jobless rate of 9.2%, with
the jobless rate impacting minorities even more negatively. We are in for a slow economic recovery to
create the necessary employment opportunities needed to support families in the
future. Congress took bold and
controversial action passing the Recovery Act in order to stimulate the economy,
to put Americans back to work and to meet the pressing needs in our local
communities. The Recovery Act
legislation was not popular with everyone but America needed jobs and a bold
response to create jobs has put money in the pockets of families, spurred
demand in the economy and created additional private-sector jobs.
C.E.F.S. received American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds – commonly referred to as the “economic stimulus”
funding – from the Federal government and the ARRA funds directly impacted our
services in the Weatherization Program, the Early Head Start Program, the
Workforce Investment Act Program, the Golden Circle Nutrition Program, the
Community Services Block Grant Program, and the Homeless Prevention and Rapid
Re-Housing Program. The ARRA funding
allowed the agency to improve upon and expand current Community Action Agency programs
and services, and to develop new solutions and programs in our local
communities. C.E.F.S. has effectively
utilized the ARRA funding to create and retain jobs. Many of these jobs created and retained
provided needed help to others … housing counselors, youth case managers, community
service advocates, weatherization assessors and laborers. ARRA funds have provided badly needed safety
net assistance as well as economic opportunity to the unemployed and
limited-income people and families across our service region. C.E.F.S. used the ARRA funds to address
critical community needs by helping people stay in their homes; helping
struggling homeowners avoid foreclosures; helping renters avoid eviction,
preventing utility shut-offs; providing displaced workers with vocational skill
training for new and emerging jobs; providing seniors with nutritionally sound
evening meals; and to provide homeless persons with needed safe shelter. The ARRA funds helped our agency fulfill our
mission of providing opportunities for people through education and support to
achieve and maintain self-sufficiency.
·
Snapshot of ARRA Funds in Action at C.E.F.S. Economic
Opportunity Corporation
(As of June 30, 2011)
Weatherization Program:
Funds
Received: $4,330,640
Funds
Obligated: $3,821,473
Projects/Activities: Weatherization Inspections, Assessments,
Final Inspections & Energy Conservation
Services
Provided: 392 Homes Weatherized
& 88 Homes in Progress
Jobs
Created/Retained: 4/3
Contractor Jobs Created/Retained:
4.72/3.74
Community Services Block Grant Program:
Funds
Received: $666,271
Funds
Obligated: $666,271
Projects/Activities: GED/ABE Instruction, Direct Client
Assistance, Transitional Housing,
Training
to Careers, & Foreclosure Mitigation
Services
Provided: 76 Students Enrolled, $71,836
in DCA, 54 Transitional Housing Clients Counseled
& Assisted,
27 Adult Participants Enrolled in School, & 54 Clients Counseled
Jobs
Created/Retained: 9
Workforce Investment Act Program:
Funds
Received: $1,383,692
Funds
Obligated: $1,259,463
Projects/Activities: Summer Youth Employment, Dislocated Worker & Adult Training,
On the Job Training
Services
Provided: 160 Youth, 85 Adult, 221
Dislocated Workers &14 Youth (DNR) Served
Jobs
Created/Retained: 160 created, 0 retained
(summer youth employment)
Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing
Program:
Funds
Received: $464,979
Funds
Obligated: $316,790
Projects/Activities: Housing Counseling
Services
Provided: Households Received
Assistance
Jobs
Created/Retained: 2.26
Early Head Start Program:
Funds
Received: $972,785 (Current
Grant) $838,314 ARRA Grant Ended
September 30, 2010
Funds
Obligated: $573,721 (Current
Grant) $838,314 ARRA Grant Ended
September 30, 2010
Projects/Activities: Operation of Early Head Start Program
for Children 0-3 Years Old
Services
Provided: Hired & Trained 10
Staff, Purchased 7 Vehicles & Recruited, Enrolled, &
Educating
72 Children & Families
Jobs
Created/Retained: 10.64
Head Start Program: (As of September 30, 2010) ARRA Grant Ending Date
Funds
Received: $229,006
Funds
Obligated: $229,006
Projects/Activities: Supplemental Head Start Funding for
Quality Improvement
Services
Provided: Purchased Bus
Restraints, Wage, Fringe & Supplies
Jobs
Created/Retained: 4
Golden Circle Nutrition Program: (As of September 30, 2010) ARRA Grant Ending Date
Funds
Received: $43,528
Funds
Obligated: $43,528
Projects/Activities: Senior Meals – Evening Meal Program at
Restaurants
Services
Provided: 7,495 Congregate Meals
& 2,146 Home Delivered Meals
Jobs
Created/Retained: 0 (Two Subcontracts to
Vendors)
Funds
Received: $395,000
Funds
Obligated: $295,000
Projects/Activities: Vehicle Procurement/ITS Software for
Reporting & Scheduling
Services
Provided: Waiting on IDOT
Procurement at State Level
Jobs
Created/Retained: 0