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ARPA RFA

About American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

In March 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act. This legislation established the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, which provides significant resources to state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to support urgent COVID-19 response efforts. Recipient governments have a once in a generation opportunity to invest these SLFRF dollars to boost the supply of affordable housing.

Through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) federal appropriation, the Salt Lake County Housing Trust Fund has approximately $20 million to make this investment and assist qualifying households who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Counter the effects of the pandemic, support families, and businesses struggling with its public health and economic impacts
  • Maintain vital public services, even with declines in revenue resulting from the pandemic
  • Build strong, resilient, and equitable recovery by making investments that support long-term growth and opportunity

Links

Amended Request for Applications
Application Checklist (For Your Convenience)

Resources

RFA Timeline

RFA Timeline Date

Pre-Application Conference 

Watch Housing Trust Fund SLCo Pre-Application Webinar

 Thursday, February 16, 2023

Letter of Intent Submission (Required)

(Appendix A Expiration Date)

 Thursday, February 23, 2023
Final day to submit questions Thursday, March 2, 2023

Application Submission Deadline – late applications will not be accepted 

(Appendix B Expiration Date)

 Wednesday, March 15, 2023
HTF Advisory Board meeting & Applicant Presentations and Funding Recommendations

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Thursday, April 6, 2023

Thursday, April 13, 2023

Wednesday, April 19, 2023 (if needed)
County Council Meeting & Notice to Applicants of Grant Award Recommendation Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Required Application Documents

Required Application Documents
File Last Updated Size
Appendix C Project Narrative Feb 03, 2023 48 kB
Appendix D Project Budget Feb 03, 2023 15 kB
Appendix E Marketing, Outreach, and or Service Plan Feb 03, 2023 28 kB
Appendix F Completed Affordable Housing Projects Feb 03, 2023 36 kB
Appendix G Environmental Compliance Practices Feb 03, 2023 141 kB
Appendix H Business Confidentiality Request Form Feb 03, 2023 30 kB
Appendix I Request for Exception or Modification to RFA or Contract Form Feb 03, 2023 27 kB

Questions and Answers

Here is the website referenced.

Thank you for your inquiry. The Housing Trust Fund Staff is working to modify the RFA for the specific bonus criteria based on your recommendation.

In the Letter of Intent (appendix A), "Applicant Information, Business or Organization name" applicants should list all participating entities.

Yes. The available funds are proportionate to the number/percentage of affordable units within the project. Yes, as the number of affordable units increases, the eligible funding increases.

The Housing Trust Fund Staff has defined a Micro unit as a 350 square foot (average size) housing unit with one-room living space designed to include seating, a bed, a bathroom, storage, and a kitchenette. It may or may not include access to communal amenities.

Yes. By December 31, 2024, projects that are awarded funds as part of this RFA are required to have signed contracts that obligate all awarded funds. Obligated funds must be spent by December 31, 2026.

Yes, Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity counts toward the 10% equity contribution for loan requests.

In the "Project Narrative, Question 33," the applicant is asked to describe the payment terms requested to accommodate the project's financing needs. The application review committee will make the determination regarding payment terms as part of the application review.

Yes, the interest rate will be determined at the time of the application review.

The Access to the Opportunity map is based on a sliding scale.

Yes, the scoring criteria is subjective. All applications will be reviewed and scored by a review committee using the scoring criteria provided in the RFA.

Applicants can request a grant, a loan, or both.

Yes, applicants can reduce the interest rate up to 2% if the project achieves all four bonus criteria.

The heart of this question seems to be asking what would trigger repayment of awarded grant funds. Grant funds must be repaid if the funds are found to have been used for ineligible purposes as outlined in the US Treasury Interim and Final Rule for Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds and/or if the project is not in compliance with the maximum rents and tenant eligibility standards during the required affordability period.

No, a Deed Restriction does not need to be executed at the time the applicant submits an application. If funds are awarded, a Loan/Grant Agreement is required. The Deed Restriction, which is part of the Loan/Grant Agreement, requires a Notice of Availability for Occupancy, the date of which commences the required 20-year affordability period.

Yes, applicants may include affordable housing projects located outside of Utah when completing Appendix F-Completed Affordable Housing Projects Form.

Yes, the Housing Trust Fund could award an amount less than the amount requested by the applicant.

Applicants will submit Request for Exception/modification to RFA or Contract Form (appendix I) with their completed application through the Application Cover Sheet (appendix B).

In Section 9.4, Additional documents…(l) is redundant to Appendix F. Both seek examples of successful affordable housing projects completed within the last 7 years. The projects can be located within Salt Lake County, the State of Utah, or another state.

Yes, it is acceptable for applicants to provide a document stating the project will carry the required insurance prior to closing on the funds.

Yes, you can find the amended Request for Applications at the top of this page. In addition, below you can view:

Amendment 1 of the RFA
Amendment 2 of the RFA