HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 8/22/2023 - Memorandum From Kerri Ishamel Re: Q2 2023 Grants UpdateFinance Administration
215 N. Mason St
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6788
MEMORANDUM
Date: August 8, 2023
To: Mayor and Councilmembers
Thru: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Travis Storin, Chief Financial Officer
From: Kerri Ishmael, Senior Analyst, Grants Administration
Subject: Q2 2023 Grants Update
Summary
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide an update on grant opportunities pursued during Q2 2023
and notice of awards received during Q2 2023, as well as view of Q3 offerings and known pursuit of
funds.
Reported grant information relates only to federal and state grant opportunities. All private grant
opportunities, as a part of philanthropic funding, are supported, tracked, and reported through City Give.
Information provided below is further divided by Service Area, with key highlights by departments in
pursuing these funding opportunities, as well as awards by departments having a significant impact on
our communities that align directly with the City’s strategic objectives.
Funding Opportunities Applied for in Q2 2023
PDT
$17,558,038
SSA
$295,000
Ops
Services
$910,000
Police,
$117,208
Q2 2023 - Ask for Funds by Service Area Total $18,880,246
DocuSign Envelope ID: 384DDCF7-1A09-4E8A-BEFA-3C87BB571134
A total of 13 funding opportunities were pursued during Q2 2023, totaling $18,880,246, with asks varying
from multi-million-dollar infrastructure upgrades and investments to replacement of fleet vehicles in
support of reducing the City’s carbon footprint, and replacement and expansion of infrastructure at the
City’s Timberline Recycling Center. Specifically:
• Operation Services, which manages ~1100 vehicles and ~850 pieces of equipment applied to the
Clean Fleet Vehicle & Technology Grant program managed by the Colorado Department of Public
Health and Environment to replace several light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles, including a
street sweeper. Request for funds was $910,000.
• Transfort put forth an ask under two separate Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding
opportunities - Low or no Emission Grant program and Buses and Bus Facilities Grant program - for
replacement of four CNG buses that have reached their useful life with battery electric buses and
associated charging equipment. This strategic ask under two separate funding opportunities aligns
with the goal to be operating 100% electric fleet by 2040. Total costs for electric buses and
associated charging equipment are $9.7 million, with a request for $7.7 million from FTA.
• PDT’s FC Moves, in collaboration with Engineering, put forth an ask for the Taft Hill Road Active
Modes Improvement Project in support of construction of a separated bike lane, side paths and
installation of pedestrian beacons. The project will improve ~ .75 miles of road from Horsetooth to
an existing trail south of Brixton Road in support of providing safety and connection for active mode
users. Total project costs are $3.3 million, with a request of $2.64 million from Colorado
Department of Transportation (CDOT) for federal Transportation Alternatives Program pass-through
funds.
• Sustainability Services’ Environmental Sustainability group put forth an ask under the Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment’s (CDPHE) Waste Diversion on the Front Range
enterprise fund. In support of the goal to increase waste diversion, Environmental Sustainability
requested replacement of equipment at the Timberline Recycling Center that reached the useful
life, as well as new equipment to increase recycling capacity. In addition to replacement and
addition of recycling equipment, the ask included a metal storage container for safe battery storage,
a need demonstrated by the December 2022 battery fire. The Timberline Recycling Facility not only
supports those living within Fort Collins but also neighboring cities and towns, as many have closed
recycling drop-off centers. Total costs for replacement and addition of equipment are $384,000, with
a request for $295,000 from CDPHE.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 384DDCF7-1A09-4E8A-BEFA-3C87BB571134
Funding Opportunities Awarded Q2 2023
A total of 7 awards, totaling $14,113,157 were received during Q2 2023, corresponding to efforts by
many departments in support of furthering existing programs, as well as supporting new opportunities
that align with several strategic objectives of service areas. Specifically:
• Transfort being successful in an ask for $10.7 million under Department of Transportation’s
(DOT) highly competitive Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity
(RAISE) Grant program in support of the Foothills Transit Station in the West Elizabeth transit
corridor, with a roundabout at the intersection of Overland Trail and West Elizabeth. The project
will support the future West Elizabeth BRT from Overland Trail to Laurel Street.
• FC Moves being awarded its full ask of $745,587 from CDOT’s Safe Route to Schools Program.
The funded project will support safety improvements within vicinity of Zach Elementary School.
Infrastructure measures to improve safety for the K-5 school includes an enhanced crosswalk
with median refuge and replacement of a bike-pedestrian crossing with full signalization.
• The City’s Water Reclamation and Biosolids Division, which operates and maintains two
wastewater treatment plants for treatment of domestic, commercial, and industrial wastewater
was successful in the ask to the CDPHE under the new Per-and Polyflouroalkyl Substances
(PFAS) Grant program. The ask was to utilize the state’s contractor to complete sampling for
PFAS at both wastewater treatment plants, as well as significant industrial users, as a measure to
evaluate the presence and severity of PFAS. Services provided by the state’s contractor are
PDT
$14,049,157
Utilities
$30,000
Police
$34,000
Q2 2023 - Grant Awards by Service Area
Total $14,113,157
$22,229,813
$14,113,157
$14,113,157 Awarded out of $22,229,813 in Applications
DocuSign Envelope ID: 384DDCF7-1A09-4E8A-BEFA-3C87BB571134
valued at $30,000. The EPA provides some background on PFAS https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-
explained.
• FC Moves successful ask under the Colorado Energy Office’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Readiness
Grant program, providing $40,000 to update the City’s 2017 EV Readiness Roadmap (EVRR). An
updated EVRR supports the City incorporating EV infrastructure that aligns with newer
technology and offerings for use by the City internally, as well as in service offerings to the
community. FC Moves, Operation Services and Utilities (Light & Power and Energy Services) will
be collaborating on the EVRR to ensure that internal and external EV offerings through
infrastructure and operation align with the goals of each service area. Once complete the City will
have numerous opportunities to apply for infrastructure and operational funding offerings through
state departments and federal agencies. Therefore, we can anticipate many efforts by
departments in 2024 in seeking these funds.
Outcome in relation to the $22,229,813 in ask for funds includes $5.8 million requested by PDT’s
Engineering group under DOT’s FY23 RAISE funding opportunity, which was unsuccessful. The request
was in support of infrastructure upgrades and incorporation along 1.33 miles of College Ave, including
the intersection at Drake Road, to remove barriers in support of safe multi-modal transportation options
for those of all ages and abilities. DOT advised that the project was part of the Highly Rated List and
while not selected for a 2023 award is designated as Projects of Merit and, thereby, encouraged the City
to apply in future funding cycles.
The City was awarded 63% of total requested funds.
The City is awaiting the outcomes on several grant applications, with total asks of $16.8 million.
Pending Funding Asks
PDT
$15,624,590
SSA
$295,000
Ops
Services
$910,000
3 Applications in Q1, Totaling $14,283,690
4 Applications in Q2, Totaling $2,545,900
DocuSign Envelope ID: 384DDCF7-1A09-4E8A-BEFA-3C87BB571134
A Look Ahead at Q3 2023
BIG news for the City, with Energy Services being awarded one of only twenty-seven national awards
from the Department of Energy, with the City being the only municipality receiving an award. Funds will
support a 5-year project by City and partners to develop and implement a zero-carbon code standard.
There are several funding opportunities with the state, as well as with federal agencies that City
departments have put forth an application or are evaluating a potential ask for funds.
NEW State Funding Opportunities
Federal IIJA Funding Opportunities
Climate Resilience Challenge
In upwards of $5 million for planning
or infrastructure projects that supports
climate mitigation and adaptation
measures
Main Street Live
In upwards of $1.5 million for
planning or infrastructure projects that
supports improving livability and
vibrancy of downtown (direction of
program is to support affordable
housing development).
Safe Streets and Roads for All – in upwards of $25 million
To improve roadway safety by significantly reducing or eliminating roadway fatalities
and serious injuries through safety action plan refinement and implementation focused
on all users (pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation users, motorists, personal
conveyance and micromobility users).
Separate funding available for planning and demonstration activities versus
implementation measures. Pursued by PDT’s
Engineering, FC
Moves and Traffic
Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving
Transportation (PROTECT) – minimum award of $500k, with no maximum limit
To fund planning and infrastructure projects to anticipate, prepare for, or withstand,
respond to, or recover rapidly from disruptions from weather events or natural disasters.
Looking at resilience planning, evacuation route planning and preparation, and resilience
improvement infrastructure projects (stormwater controls, drainage structures,
reconstruct/replace surface transportation facility = road, street, right-of-way, bridge,
tunnel . . ..)
DocuSign Envelope ID: 384DDCF7-1A09-4E8A-BEFA-3C87BB571134
Federal IIJA Funding Opportunities continued
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has been slow in rolling out grant funding opportunities. The state is
looking to pursue funding direct from federal agencies, currently working with local governments to
identify programs and projects that local governments have identified as aligning with goals and
objectives of the federal program and state related plans. These federal programs include the Solar for
All grant program and Climate Pollution Reduction grant program through the EPA. Potential funding
opportunities for local governments under these programs is projected in Q2 2024.
The City’s Forestry group is awaiting guidance from Colorado State Forestry, which received $4.9 million
from the Department of Agriculture’s Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Program for tree
planting and related activities, with a priority for projects that benefit underserved populations. The state
is working with National Forest Foundation to eventually roll out offerings to eligible entities, including
local governments, to receive funds in support of tree planting. Therefore, more to come on Forestry’s
pursuit of funds in support of tree plantings/canopies.
News from the state under its’ Local Match (LOMA) grant program. Beginning state fiscal year 2023-
2024, July 1st, LOMA funds can be used to meet local match requirements under both IIJA and IRA
funding opportunities.
Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods – IIJA and IRA combined
program with $3.16 billion in available funds for 2023.
Two funding buckets:
(1) Capital Construction – to fund both reconnecting focused projects and smaller
projects focused on reducing environmental harm and improving access, with
focus on such harm/barriers imposed on disadvantaged communities. Projects
can address: a dividing facility; mitigating a burdening facility (a source of air
pollution, noise, stormwater, et al); and improving access and building or
improving Complete Streets.
There is no award maximum $amount. For projects falling under IIJA funding
requires a minimum of $10 million in total project costs.
(2) Community Planning – to fund planning activities for future Capital
Construction
There is no award maximum $amount. For projects falling under IIJA funding
requires a minimum of $2.5 million in total project costs.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 384DDCF7-1A09-4E8A-BEFA-3C87BB571134