March 2022
Note from Commissioner Meitzner
The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved spending the balance of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for a total of nearly $67million. Close to $60 million of that will support ongoing efforts to help Sedgwick County and its residents recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating effects on our health and economy. Another $6.8 million will go into a contingency fund. This spending plan allocates ARPA funds from April 1, 2022 through Dec. 21, 2024. You can see the presentation made on March 23 by Sedgwick County CFO Lindsay Poe Rosseau that explains everything at https://youtu.be/v48fe8uuf34?t=4196.

Some highlights of the decision include:
  • $1.4 million to Recovery Connect, a community navigator program that connects families, businesses and non-profits with resources to help them recover from the negative impacts of COVID-19.
  • $17.5 million to the District Courts, District Attorney’s Office, Sedgwick County Jail and Department of Corrections to address a backlog of court cases and the ripple effects, due to courts closing for months during the pandemic.
  • $5.2 million to the Sedgwick County Jail to install surveillance cameras to monitor unmanned pods for low-risk inmates, due to staffing challenges.
  • $15.7 million to the Sedgwick County Health Department for COVID-19 testing and vaccines to boost vaccination rates and to be prepared in case of another COVID-19 surge.

These items continue or expand recovery efforts started last year, when ARPA became law in March 2021 and awarded Sedgwick County just over $100 million in total. From that, the BOCC dedicated more than $33 million through the first quarter of 2022 to provide vital community services and free COVID-19 vaccinations and testing at multiple sites around Sedgwick County.

Several other COVID-19 recovery resources are still available to residents:
  • Recovery Connect - www.Recovery-Connect.org
  • A Sedgwick County economic recovery program that connects individuals, businesses, and nonprofits with resources to help them recover from the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • State SPARK funding programs - https://covid.ks.gov/available_funding/
  • The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Executive Committee will oversees the distribution process of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding, assisted by four advisory panels with additional members. The advisory panels are focused on four main topics: Health and Education, Economic Revitalization, Connectivity, and Efficiency and Modernization.
  • TASK grants (Tourism Attraction Sub-Grants) - https://www.travelks.com/travel-industry/programs-and-resources/grants/task-grant/
  • The Tourism Attraction Sub-grants for Kansas (TASK) program is a one-time opportunity for the enhancement of Kansas attraction assets. The TASK program is a 50/50 reimbursable grant.
  • BASE grants (Building a Stronger Economy) - https://www.kansascommerce.gov/basegrant/
  • BASE is designed to support infrastructure development to address economic development opportunities statewide with the goal of expanding the state’s base of businesses and residents.
  • Build Back Better Regional Challenge - https://eda.gov/arpa/build-back-better/
  • The Challenge provides transformational investments to develop and strengthen regional industry clusters across the country, all while embracing equitable economic growth, creating good-paying jobs, and enhancing U.S. global competitiveness. 
  • Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance program - https://kshousingcorp.org/emergency-rental-assistance/
  • The Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program is funded through the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. 
  • Kansas Homeowner Assistance Fund - https://kshousingcorp.org/kansas-homeowner-assistance-fund/
  • The Kansas Homeowners Assistance Fund (KHAF) program is expected to launch in 2022 with $56,648,216 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. KHAF will help eligible Kansas households financially impacted by the pandemic to get current on their mortgages and avoid foreclosure. 
  • Hero Relief Fund - https://ksherorelief.com/
  • Eligibility is limited to families who have countable income at or below 250% of federal poverty guidelines, or a monthly income of up to $5,458 for a family of four.
  • Funeral Assistance Program - https://www.fema.gov/disaster/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many. EMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred on or after January 20, 2020.
$160 Million Available to Support Child Care Providers in Kansas
More help is now available for childcare providers in Sedgwick County impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Laura Kelly has announced $160 million in grants administered by Child Care Aware of Kansas. Qualifying providers are guaranteed nine months of payments ranging from $1,800 per month for family childcare programs to $18,000 per month for large centers. Depending on how the money is used, providers could be eligible for an additional five months of funding.

Grant dollars can be used for personnel costs, rent/mortgage, utilities, personal protective equipment, goods or services, purchases or updates to equipment and supplies, and mental health support.

Child care providers can apply at www.ks.childcareaware.org until November 30, 2022.
Kansas Connect and Learn Initiative Provides Funds to Match Federal E-rate Program
School districts in Sedgwick County and around the state now have a big financial incentive to improve their technology infrastructure.

The Kansas Connect and Learn initiative was just approved by the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Executive Committee and the State Finance Council. The $4 million fund will pay 10% of the cost for a school or library to construct new broadband infrastructure. If it meets the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) bandwidth recommendation, the upgrade will also earn the district a bigger discount from the E-rate program for Internet access and telecommunications. Currently, E-rate gives most Kansas schools and libraries at least a 70% discount, but the state matching fund could increase that by another 10% in savings.

School districts can apply on the E-rate form 471. For more information on E-rate, visit https://e-rateks.ksde.org.
April Burn Ban
Out & About with Commissioners
Chairman Dennis spoke at the annual Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce Chair's Lunch at Century II on behalf of Sedgwick County.
Commissioners Howell and Lopez and other local officials attended the welcoming celebration of Lao P.D.R. Ambassador H.W. Khamphan Anlavan.
Commissioners Cruse and Meitzner attended the bi-monthly Sedgwick County Association of Cities meeting. Sedgwick County EMS also provided an update on their operations.
Tag Office Expanding Services & Hours
Starting Monday, March 28, 2022, the Sedgwick County Treasurer’s Office will now be able to accept personal property & real estate tax payments at its Tag Offices located at 2525 W. Douglas and 5620 E Kellogg St. Payments will be accepted from March 28 through May 13.

Beginning Monday, April 4, 2022, the Sedgwick County Treasurer’s Office will also be expanding the hours of operation at its Tag Offices. New hours of operation will be from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tax payments will only be taken between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

For convenience, the Treasurer’s Office also offers online, dropbox and mail payment services. For general questions about tags, please call 316-660-9000.
Recovery Connect: Connect with Resources Today
Recovery Connect is a Sedgwick County economic recovery program that connects individuals, businesses, and nonprofits with resources to help them recover from the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recovery Connect is for every citizen in Sedgwick County; the COVID pandemic has certainly changed everyone’s life. Unfortunately, it’s proven the impact is worse for some. This program connects with all areas of the community, with special efforts marketing to certain populations, to provide equitable access for all. Recovery Connect uses a hub-and-spoke model (with the Public Policy & Management Center at Wichita State University serving as the hub) designed to address disparities through an additional focus on underrepresented populations to meet the needs resulting from the impacts of the pandemic. 

Program features include:
  • Monthly Reports to Sedgwick County
  • Phone, In-Person and Virtual Support
  • Radio & Mail Advertising
  • Social Media Marketing
  • Resource Audit & Needs Survey
  • Constant Feedback & Agile Approach
  • Grant Workshops
  • Job Training & Application Assistance
  • Connection to Community-Based Resources
  • Comprehensive Final Report

Find COVID-19 Resources below for:
COVID-19 Report for Feb. 2022
Showing case information from Mar. 14-28, 2022 with 14-day change:
  • The USA case count increased from 79,529,684 to 79,959,555 (+0.54%)
  • The Kansas case count increased from 768,820 to 769,850 (+0.13%)
  • The Sedgwick County case count increased from 111,212 to 111,427 (+0.19%)
 
The Sedgwick County Health Department (SCHD) operates a no-cost testing site located at 4115 E. Harry St. Testing is available Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 12 to 5 p.m. SCHD conducts PCR testing using nasal, oral or saliva samples.

Text "SC COVID TEST" to 316-215-8313 to get in line for a COVID-19 test through SCHD. For additional no-cost testing sites in Wichita, go here. 

Test results are generally available by the next weekday afternoon.
COVID-19 Vaccination Update
SCHD provides no-cost primary series and booster doses of Pfizer vaccine for people 5 and older and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine for people 18 and older. For more information on vaccination schedules, visit https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/covid-19/vaccine/get-vaccinated/.

SCHD operates the following no-cost, walk-in vaccine clinic options:
 
  • Community Vaccine Clinic at the former Wichita Public Library | 223 S. Main, Wichita, KS 67202 (Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
  • Mobile Clinics are offered by SCHD staff at locations throughout Sedgwick County (hours vary; for locations, visit https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/covid-19/vaccine/clinic-locations/)
  • Partner Clinics are offered by community partners and assisted by SCHD staff. Appointments preferred but walk-ins are welcome (hours vary)
 
No ID required; Proof of prior vaccination(s) expedites registration.
Stop Suicide
Educating yourself and others on the warning signs can play a crucial role in saving someone else's life. You are not alone. Please call the Community Crisis Center (CCC) today at (316) 660-7500.
Tag Renewals & New Plates
Contact Commissioner Pete Meitzner
316-660-9300
525 N. Main, Ste 320, Wichita, KS 67203