The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)

Federal Quarterly Report Summary

Period Ending September 30, 2009

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) requires an unprecedented level of reporting by the individuals and organizations that receive funding for projects and/or programs under the Act. ARRA requires quarterly reporting by primary recipients of funding to the federal government. One of these reports is the “1512 Report” – a requirement under Section 1512 of the Act. This report is the primary mechanism for the reporting of funds received, funds expended, and jobs created/retained for each federal funding stream.

The following grants are reported:

• Municipal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (U.S. Department of Energy)
• State Energy Program (U.S. Department of Energy)
• State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program (U.S. Department of Energy)
• Enhancing State Government Energy Assurance Capabilities and Planning for Smart Grid Resiliency (U.S. Department of Energy)
• Justice Assistance Grant (U.S. Department of Justice)
• STOP Violence Against Women (U.S. Department of Justice)

Municipal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management will be administering two programs with the $9,593,500 awarded under the ARRA EECBG. The first is a formula grant program for the 142 municipalities that were not eligible to receive direct funding through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This program is titled the OPM Municipal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. Approximately 90% of the award will be used to fund this program. The award amount that each municipality is eligible for is based on a base amount of $25,000 plus an additional amount based on pro-rata population share. The second program is a competitive program for towns that partner to implement projects of a regional nature. All 169 Connecticut municipalities are eligible to partner and apply under this program. This program is titled the Supplemental Regional Bonus Pool Program. Approximately 10% of Connecticut’s EECBG award will be used to fund this program.

State Energy Program

The purpose of the State Energy Program is to promote the adoption of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies in the marketplace. The program is focused on multiple sectors which include- Building Code training and compliance; Building Operator Training; Clean Cities program support; large commercial and industrial energy efficiency opportunities; small business energy efficiency opportunities; residential audits and efficiency opportunities; State building energy improvements; and incentives to promote the following kinds of installations on commercial and residential facilities: solar thermal systems, solar photovoltaic systems, geothermal heat pump systems; and fuel cell installations (commercial only).

State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program

State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program (SEEARP) is to be used to support the state’s new rebate program for residential ENERGY STAR appliance products. Connecticut’s allocation is approximately $3.4 million.

Enhancing State Government Energy Assurance Capabilities and Planning for Smart Grid Resiliency

The State of Connecticut has been awarded a formulaic grant of $521,250 from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as part of ARRA for a project entitled “Enhancing State Government Energy Assurance Capabilities and Planning for Smart Grid Resiliency” (EA). OPM, housing the State’s Energy Office, is responsible for overseeing this grant award. OPM has retained the services of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE) to manage the development and completion of tasks and deliverables required by this grant. The purposes of the EA initiative are to: 1) strengthen and expand State energy assurance planning and resiliency efforts, 2) create jobs, and, 3) build-in house State energy assurance expertise. Additionally, the initiative will support the building of regional energy assurance capability to allow the State to better coordinate and communicate state-wide, and with other states, on energy security, reliability and emergency response issues. Significant deliverables for this initiative include: Project Management Plan (PMP); Workforce Development Plan (WDP); Energy Supply Disruption Tracking Process (ESDTP); Energy Assurance Plan (EAP); Energy Assurance Exercises, both Intra- and Inter- State (EAE); and, Energy Assurance Exercises after Action Reports, both Intra- and Inter- State (EAE AAR). The PMP is due to DOE by 10/12/2009. The WDP is due to DOE by 11/10/2009.

Justice Assistance Grant

The Office of Policy and Management serves as the “State Administrative Agency” (SAA) for the JAG grant ($12.5 million) and is responsible for oversight and management of the federal grant funds.  The JAG program is a flexible, multi-purpose grant that may be used for prevention, intervention, law enforcement, sanctions, courts and other functions of the criminal justice system.  In compliance with federal program rules, approx. 39% of the formula grant funds are “passed-through” to local governments; approx. 61% of the funds are committed to state agency projects and 10% of the local and state agency funds are allocated for OPM administrative costs.  During the past reporting period, the Governor’s Office proposed an allocation plan for the distribution of funds which was posted on the Connecticut RECOVERY web site for public comment. In an effort to expedite the flow of RECOVERY funds to local governments, OPM implemented a “fast-track” grant-making process which enabled the municipalities to complete the application and award process in less than three months.   OPM staff developed a new web-based grants administration portal specifically for the ARRA grants to streamline the review and processing of the municipalities and provide web-based access for the public to view the grant documents.  Within the September 30, 2009 reporting period, OPM awarded $844,200 of ARRA JAG funds to twenty-nine municipalities to help communities address their priority public safety needs.  In addition, OPM committed $3.5 million to state agencies projects that will accelerate the testing of forensic DNA evidence, expand offender management information systems, and preserve statewide drug investigation task force.   During the upcoming reporting period of October through December, 2009, OPM plans to award $3.2 million to an additional 125 municipalities and $1.3 million will be committed to expanding staff coverage at domestic violence shelters and establishing a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) pilot program.

STOP Violence Against Women

The Office of Policy and Management serves as the “State Administrative Agency” (SAA) for the STOP Violence Against Women grant ($1.8 million) which is restricted to addressing the criminal justice system response to domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.  Federal program rules require a categorical distribution of funds: 30% for nongovernmental victim services, 25% for law enforcement, 25% for prosecution, 15% discretionary and 5% for courts.  During the past reporting period, the Governor’s Office proposed an allocation plan for the distribution of funds which was posted on the Connecticut RECOVERY web site for public comment.  During the upcoming reporting period of October through December 2009, $400, 000 in federal funds and state match funds will be awarded to domestic violence shelters to expand staff coverage and $350,000 will be awarded to support the new Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) pilot program.  In addition, $545,793 in grant funds are committed to supporting six prosecutor positions dedicated to prosecuting domestic violence and sexual assault cases. It is anticipated that during the subsequent reporting periods starting in January 2010, OPM will release RFPs to develop community based outreach initiatives focused on under-served populations and teen dating violence.