The Johnson County Commission has announced the Water Resource Match (WRM) funding pre-approvals under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). A total of $1,111,500 was pre-approved for seven applications across Johnson County. The Johnson County Commission announced that a portion of the county ARPA money would be made available for local cost share purposes through the Johnson County WRM application program.

Using state ARPA funding, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Financial Assistance Center is administering four separate ARPA grant programs to complete drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure projects as well as lead service line inventories. Local cost share is required in order to apply for State ARPA funding. Applicants receive priority during the scoring process based on the percent of local cost share contributed. The local Johnson County WRM program enhances an applicant’s competitiveness by assisting with a portion of the local cost share requirement. The maximum amount an entity could receive through the Johnson County WRM Program was not to exceed fifty percent of the local match applied and approved for with the Missouri DNR grant.

“My fellow commissioners and I feel strongly that assisting local entities by leveraging the county ARPA Funds as a portion of local cost share will further invest in our county’s future. If approved by Missouri DNR, these seven unique projects will greatly impact access to safe water resources for citizens and businesses in Johnson County,” said Presiding Commissioner Densil Allen. The Missouri DNR application scoring is expected to conclude by October 12, 2022.

Recipients will only be eligible for the WRM program if their application(s) to the Missouri DNR is approved, or if placed on the waiting list. All applicants will be required to enter into a written agreement with the County prior to disbursement of awarded funds.

Pending the above items, the Johnson County Commission approved not-to-exceed funding awards for the following organizations, for total of $1,111,500.

• $31,500 to the City of Centerview for drinking water.
• $150,000 to the City of Holden for drinking water.
• $105,000 to the City of Holden for stormwater.
• $150,000 to the City of Holden for wastewater.
• $150,000 to the City of Knob Noster for wastewater.
• $137,500 to the City of Leeton for drinking water.
• $387,500 to Public Water Supply District number 3 for drinking water.

Visit http://www.jococourthouse.com/arpa.html for more information or call Johnson County Treasurer Heather Reynolds at 660-747-7411.