Arapahoe County, Colo.

Draft Recovery Plan 

State and Local Fiscal Recovery 

Funds

2021 Report
Arapahoe County 2021 Draft Recovery Plan Performance Report 1

Arapahoe County, Colo.

2021 Draft Recovery Plan

Table of Contents

General Overview......................................................................................................................3

Executive Summary.................................................................................................................3

Uses of Funds .........................................................................................................................3

Promoting Equitable Outcomes ...............................................................................................4

Community Engagement .........................................................................................................5

Labor Practices .......................................................................................................................5

Use of Evidence ......................................................................................................................5

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category...........................................................................6

Project Inventory.......................................................................................................................8

Example Project .....................................................................................................................9

Additional Projects...................................................................................................................9

Ineligible Activities: Tax Offset Provision ............................................................................10

For More Information

More information about the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund program and associated reporting 

requirements are located at www.treasury.gov/SLFRP .

Questions on reporting, eligible uses, or other general topics should be directed to SLFRP@treasury.gov.
Arapahoe County 2021 Draft Recovery Plan Performance Report 2

GENERAL OVERVIEW

Executive Summary 

Arapahoe County, Colo. is one of Colorado’s fastest growing counties, with more than 655,000 residents. 

By 2030, about 800,000 are projected to live here, which would make us the most populous county in 

the metro area, surpassing the City and County of Denver. The County spans approximately 805 square 

miles and its diversity is evident throughout, from vibrant urban, suburban, and rural communities to an 

unparalleled open space and trail system, to major employment centers and a robust multimodal 

transportation network.

The County is home to 13 cities and towns, nine school districts and 450 local improvement and special 

service districts. It also has one of the lowest property tax mill levies in the state. Arapahoe County is 

home to some of the nation's largest companies, representing the aerospace and defense, biosciences, 

broadband, construction, engineering, financial services, healthcare, hospitality, information technology 

and advanced manufacturing industries, among others. The County is also home to Centennial Airport, 

one of the 10 busiest general aviation airports in the nation.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the economic and personal health of Arapahoe 

County residents, businesses, and nonprofit partners. In 2020, Arapahoe County issued an emergency 

declaration, activated its Office of Emergency Management, distributed more than 2 million items of 

personal protective equipment, coordinated public health response, and supported several stand-alone 

testing sites.

When the federal government distributed funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security 

(CARES) Act in May 2020, Colorado, like most of the U.S., was deep into the extended shutdowns and 

resulting loss of income and revenue, which forced all County departments and stakeholders to act 

quickly and nimbly to determine where the relief should go. The County adopted a response and 

recovery plan to help guide these one-time federal fund investments under the CARES Act and 

implemented the Arapahoe County CARES program to help disperse the funds. This meant establishing 

new assistance programs on the fly or expanding existing offerings, all while operating in an unfamiliar 

remote work environment—while still providing all normal County services to residents and businesses.

Without this funding, the County would have been unable to cover costs that were necessary to respond 

to the public health emergency related to COVID-19 given our limited financial resources. For example:

• $15.3 million in direct business grants to nearly 870 businesses,

• $1.4 million for businesses to secure PPE supplies, remote work buildout and COVID safety 

training,

• $6 million to our nine school districts for PPE supplies and remote learning assets,

• $3.95 million to cover increased staffing, PPE and remote work supplies for the health 

department,

• $3.28 million to create an Alternate Care Facility in case of hospital overcrowding,

• $1.3 million for COVID testing and first responder medical studies,

• $441,900 for rental or mortgage assistance to provide 311 months of expenses for 165 

households, and
Arapahoe County 2021 Draft Recovery Plan Performance Report 3

• $56.5 million to municipalities that were ineligible to receive direct funding to support localized 

needs.

The passage of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) enabled the County to spend some funds during 

this performance reporting period to continue critical safety net programs – such as providing support 

to food insecurity providers as well as housing vouchers - that but for additional one-time funding likely 

would have ended. 

Arapahoe County recognized these one-time federal funds represent a one-time opportunity to make 

strategic and impactful investments to achieve our established goal: a full recovery from COVID-19, 

effectively balancing health, safety, and the economy.

As a result, Arapahoe County is currently updating its response and recovery plan to meet the evolving 

nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure goal alignment. As such, this performance plan should be 

considered as a draft document, which will be updated within 60 days after approval by our governance 

body, the Arapahoe County Board of Commissioners (Board).

To achieve the stated goal, Arapahoe County has established the following objectives: 

• Support the economic recovery of our residents and businesses across the county, including 

rebuilding and/or enhancing the tax base.

• Protect the health and well-being of county employees.

• Increase access to testing and vaccinations.

• Support the most vulnerable across the county.

• Educate about personal responsibility, situational awareness, and preventive actions to reduce 

transmission, supporting high-risk populations to minimize risk and remain in safe 

environments.

• Fund direct COVID-19 costs in a manner that minimizes county liability, recognizing multiple 

grant streams and funding opportunities.

• Secure Arapahoe County’s fiscal health, leveraging one-time funds and grants to improve 

sustainability of the county’s budgetary position.

• Make strategic and impactful investments that position Arapahoe County for long-term vs. 

short-term success in alignment with the County’s overall vision and strategic plan.

• Leverage data-driven decision-making models to assess public health, economic recovery, and 

funding impacts.

As the County implements specific programs and strategies to accomplish these objectives, we will 

consider the following:

• Health, safety, and wellness of public and county employees.

• Public health guidance/regulations, including the potential for implementing additional 

restrictions.
Arapahoe County 2021 Draft Recovery Plan Performance Report 4

• Coordinate with municipal partners across the county.

• Coordinate with adjacent counties to the extent possible.

• Expectation setting, including levels of service.

• Longer-term limitation of certain services.

• County fiscal impacts/constraints.

• Impact of federal and state actions or inferences to address recovery.

• Flexibility to adapt to changing conditions.

• Supplemental staff support to administer numerous federal programs.

• Consider geographic and socioeconomic equity in decision-making.

• Seek innovative programs/ideas and long-term (vs. short term) investments.

• In the disaster management models, recovery scales into preparation for the next likely event.

Like previous one-time federal funding, the Board has adopted an initial list of broad programmatic 

areas – which we call “buckets” – where funding could be allocated over the course of the next several 

years, including:

• Vulnerable Populations

• Business Support

• Public Health

• COVID Response (direct costs associated with the pandemic)

• County Operations

• Emergency Preparedness

• Homelessness (including housing and programmatic support)

• Capital Investments (such as water, wastewater and broadband projects)

• Mental Health

• Education

Based on the guidance issued by the U.S. Treasury, the County has begun populating potential ideas 

under each of these categories and conducted stakeholder outreach to generate additional ideas for 

consideration. Based on information received to date, Arapahoe County is completing additional 

research into potential programs and services, as well as developing evaluation criteria for future 

investments.
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Arapahoe County anticipates finalizing is Response and Recovery Plan no later than Q4 2021. As such, 

this performance plan should be considered as a draft document, which will be updated within 60 days 

after approval by our governance body, the Arapahoe County Board of Commissioners.

Uses of Funds

Arapahoe County has established countywide objectives for programmatic funding considerations to 

help determine distribution of one-time federal funds from ARPA and the Emergency Rental Assistance 

(ERA) legislation. The County is seeking to maximize available funding in alignment with legislative text

and U.S. Treasury Department guidance. The County anticipates finalizing our funding utilization 

approach by Q4 2021 and will update this plan accordingly.

Initially, the County programmed approximately $17.5 million of general fund to continue pandemicrelated programs and services in 2021. As result of ARPA and ERA, the County will be able to allocate 

these one-time program costs to ARPA or ERA, reducing negative impacts to the County’s general fund 

and maximizing the Board’s ability to address general government needs in the 2022 budget process. 

Approximately $TK million in ARPA funds have been spent to continue programs and services in the 

areas of Public Health (EC 1) and Services to Disproportionally Impacted Communities (EC 3).

Promoting equitable outcomes 

Arapahoe County is one of Colorado’s fastest growing counties and one of the most diverse, with more 

than 650,000 residents. According to initial data from the 2020 U.S. Census, Arapahoe County has the 

largest proportion of Black/African American non-Hispanic and the largest Asian/Pacific Islander nonHispanic populations among Colorado’s 11 largest counties. Approximately 21 percent of County 

residents identify as Hispanic/Latino. Nearly 8,700 families live in poverty, with female-led households, 

especially those with children under 18, having much higher poverty rates than married couple families 

in every commissioner district. The County’s unemployment rate remains at 6.6 percent, which is higher 

than the state of Colorado.

Arapahoe County has a history of successfully targeting resources to serve historically underserved 

populations. One of the key considerations adopted by the Board of County Commissioners within the 

current draft recovery plan is to consider geographic and socioeconomic equity in our decision-making

process. Approximately $TK million in ARPA funds have been spent to continue Services to 

Disproportionally Impacted Communities (EC 3). As we finalize our recovery plan document, additional 

information will be provided on how Arapahoe County intends to promote equitable outcomes.

Community Engagement

Throughout late July and August 2021, Arapahoe County has conducted 14 outreach meetings with key 

stakeholders across the region. Stakeholders represented individuals that work with, interact, or 

represent vulnerable populations, homelessness, businesses, emergency preparedness, K-12 and postsecondary education, public health, behavioral health, food insecurity, older adults, BIPOC communities, 

municipalities, water and wastewater providers, and special districts.

These meetings provided stakeholders with consistent information about ARPA, requirements and 

restrictions associated with one-time federal funding, and the County’s desired objectives and initial 
Arapahoe County 2021 Draft Recovery Plan Performance Report 6

programmatic areas. A facilitated discussion identified continued community needs, existing service 

gaps or barriers, and potential ideas for resolution.

Key themes and specific ideas identified during these outreach sessions will be incorporated into 

Arapahoe County’s final recovery plan.

Labor Practices 

Arapahoe County has not determined whether infrastructure projects will be advanced as part of the 

final recovery plan. Additional information will be provided following adoption by the Board of County 

Commissioners.

Use of Evidence 

Arapahoe County has not determined which interventions or programs will be advanced as part of the 

final recovery plan beyond the initial programmatic areas under consideration. Additional information 

will be provided following adoption by the Board of County Commissioners.

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category

Category Cumulative

expenditures to 

date ($)

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan

1 Expenditure Category: Public Health

1.1 COVID-19 Vaccination 1,425 1,425

1.2 COVID-19 Testing 241,372 241,372

1.3 COVID-19 Contact Tracing

1.4 Prevention in Congregate Settings (Nursing 

Homes, Prisons/Jails, Dense Work Sites, 

Schools, etc.)

1.5 Personal Protective Equipment

1.6 Medical Expenses (including Alternative Care 

Facilities)

1.7 Capital Investments or Physical Plant Changes 

to Public Facilities that respond to the COVID19 public health emergency

1.8 Other COVID-19 Public Health Expenses 

(including Communications, Enforcement, 

Isolation/Quarantine)

571,861 571,861

1.9 Payroll Costs for Public Health, Safety, and 

Other Public Sector Staff Responding to 

COVID-19

1.10 Mental Health Services

1.11 Substance Use Services

1.12 Other Public Health Services 8,993 8,993

2 Expenditure Category: Negative Economic 

Impacts

2.1 Household Assistance: Food Programs 239,000 239,000
Arapahoe County 2021 Draft Recovery Plan Performance Report 7

Category Cumulative

expenditures to 

date ($)

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan

2.2 Household Assistance: Rent, Mortgage, and 

Utility Aid 

2.3 Household Assistance: Cash Transfers 

2.4 Household Assistance: Internet Access 

Programs

2.5 Household Assistance: Eviction Prevention

2.6 Unemployment Benefits or Cash Assistance to 

Unemployed Workers

2.7 Job Training Assistance (e.g., Sectoral jobtraining, Subsidized Employment, Employment 

Supports or Incentives)

2.8 Contributions to UI Trust Funds*

2.9 Small Business Economic Assistance (General) 4,462,887 4,462,887

2.10 Aid to nonprofit organizations

2.11 Aid to Tourism, Travel, or Hospitality

2.12 Aid to Other Impacted Industries

2.13 Other Economic Support 33,848 33,848

2.14 Rehiring Public Sector Staff

3 Expenditure Category: Services to 

Disproportionately Impacted Communities

3.1 Education Assistance: Early Learning 

3.2 Education Assistance: Aid to High-Poverty 

Districts

3.3 Education Assistance: Academic Services 

3.4 Education Assistance: Social, Emotional, and 

Mental Health Services 

3.5 Education Assistance: Other 

3.6 Healthy Childhood Environments: Child Care 

3.7 Healthy Childhood Environments: Home Visiting 

3.8 Healthy Childhood Environments: Services to 

Foster Youth or Families Involved in Child 

Welfare System 

3.9. Healthy Childhood Environments: Other 

3.10 Housing Support: Affordable Housing 

3.11 Housing Support: Services for Unhoused 

persons 

3.12 Housing Support: Other Housing Assistance 

3.13 Social Determinants of Health: Other 

3.14 Social Determinants of Health: Community 

Health Workers or Benefits Navigators 

83,035 83,035

3.15 Social Determinants of Health: Lead 

Remediation
Arapahoe County 2021 Draft Recovery Plan Performance Report 8

Category Cumulative

expenditures to 

date ($)

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan

3.16 Social Determinants of Health: Community 

Violence Interventions 

4 Expenditure Category: Premium Pay

4.1 Public Sector Employees

4.2 Private Sector: Grants to other employers 

5 Expenditure Category: Infrastructure

5.1 Clean Water: Centralized wastewater treatment

5.2 Clean Water: Centralized wastewater collection 

and conveyance

5.3 Clean Water: Decentralized wastewater

5.4 Clean Water: Combined sewer overflows

5.5 Clean Water: Other sewer infrastructure

5.6 Clean Water: Stormwater

5.7 Clean Water: Energy conservation

5.8 Clean Water: Water conservation

5.9 Clean Water: Nonpoint source 

5.10 Drinking water: Treatment

5.11 Drinking water: Transmission & distribution

5.12 Drinking water: Transmission & distribution: 

lead remediation

5.13 Drinking water: Source

5.14 Drinking water: Storage 

5.15 Drinking water: Other water infrastructure

5.16 Broadband: “Last Mile” projects

5.17 Broadband: Other projects

6 Expenditure Category: Revenue Replacement

6.1 Provision of Government Services

7 Administrative and Other

7.1 Administrative Expenses 

7.2 Evaluation and data analysis 

7.3 Transfers to Other Units of Government

7.4 Transfers to Nonentitlement Units 

(States and Territories only)
Arapahoe County 2021 Draft Recovery Plan Performance Report 9

Project Inventory 

Project [Identification Number]: Business Rent Rescue [303713]

Funding amount: $7,000,000

Project Expenditure Category: 2.9 Small Business Economic Assistance (General)

Project Overview

Arapahoe County is administering a Rent Rescue Grant Program to support our small- and mediumsized businesses throughout our communities. If the business is behind on commercial lease 

payments and has closed its doors or dramatically limited operations due to Public Health Orders 

related to COVID-19, grant funding will be made available provided the business meets all the 

eligibility criteria and requirements. Business eligibility includes, among others, employers under 

500 employees, for-profit businesses that have lost at least 25% of its income due to COVID-19 

pandemic and are in good standing with the state, and first priority will be given to those businesses 

with the most severe impact from the pandemic.

Use of Evidence

Arapahoe County has not determined which interventions or programs will be advanced as part of 

the final recovery plan beyond the initial programmatic areas under consideration and this one that 

has been continued from earlier pandemic relief efforts. Additional information on these 

programmatic approaches will be provided following adoption by the Board of County 

Commissioners.

Project [Identification Number]: Business PPE Grants [303714]

Funding amount: $100,000

Project Expenditure Category: 2.9 Small Business Economic Assistance (General)

Project Overview

Provide grants to businesses within Arapahoe County that have been negatively impacted by the 

COVID-19 public health emergency and/or have had their operations limited or were closed due to 

public health orders. Expenditures for businesses to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) 

for employees, disinfect, clean, and modify their businesses in order to reopen and comply with 

public health orders will be reimbursed to eligible businesses.

Use of Evidence

Arapahoe County has not determined which interventions or programs will be advanced as part of 

the final recovery plan beyond the initial programmatic areas under consideration and this one that 

has been continued from earlier pandemic relief efforts. Additional information on these 

programmatic approaches will be provided following adoption by the Board of County 

Commissioners.

Project [Identification Number]: GPS Monitoring Support [303714]

Funding amount: $200,000

Project Expenditure Category: 2.13 Other Economic Support
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Project Overview

The economic impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency has resulted in some persons 

sentenced by the courts to wear GPS monitors not being able to fund this monitoring due to 

unemployment and other pandemic-induced financial hardship. To make sure this important 

program can be continued the County will provide supplemental funding to the GPS monitoring 

vendor to allow this monitoring to continue. 

Use of Evidence

Arapahoe County has not determined which interventions or programs will be advanced as part of 

the final recovery plan beyond the initial programmatic areas under consideration and this one that 

has been continued from earlier pandemic relief efforts. Additional information on these 

programmatic approaches will be provided following adoption by the Board of County 

Commissioners.

Project [Identification Number]: Community COVID Testing [550097]

Funding amount: $1,000,000

Project Expenditure Category: 1.2 COVID-19 Testing

Project Overview

Funding allocated to community health providers for comprehensive COVID-19 testing including 

supplies, equipment, and staffing related to those testing programs.

Use of Evidence

Arapahoe County has not determined which interventions or programs will be advanced as part of 

the final recovery plan beyond the initial programmatic areas under consideration and this one that 

has been continued from earlier pandemic relief efforts. Additional information on these 

programmatic approaches will be provided following adoption by the Board of County 

Commissioners.

Project [Identification Number]: Community COVID Testing [550098]

Funding amount: $500,000

Project Expenditure Category: 1.2 COVID-19 Testing

Project Overview

Funding for other COVID-19 testing efforts that are occurring within Arapahoe County to include 

providing the testing infrastructure and supplies related to State-provided testing sites.

Use of Evidence

Arapahoe County has not determined which interventions or programs will be advanced as part of 

the final recovery plan beyond the initial programmatic areas under consideration and this one that 

has been continued from earlier pandemic relief efforts. Additional information on these 

programmatic approaches will be provided following adoption by the Board of County 

Commissioners.
Arapahoe County 2021 Draft Recovery Plan Performance Report 11

Project [Identification Number]: Public Communications [550100]

Funding amount: $1,500,000

Project Expenditure Category: 1.8 Other COVID-19 Public Health Expenses (including 

Communications, Enforcement, Isolation/Quarantine)

Project Overview

Provide funding for increased public communications a related to providing a more robust 

notification of required public health measures and mask-wearing information to increase public 

compliance as part of the response to and efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Use of Evidence

Arapahoe County has not determined which interventions or programs will be advanced as part of 

the final recovery plan beyond the initial programmatic areas under consideration and this one that 

has been continued from earlier pandemic relief efforts. Additional information on these 

programmatic approaches will be provided following adoption by the Board of County 

Commissioners.

Project [Identification Number]: COVID-19 Data Analysis and Tracking [700548]

Funding amount: $100,000

Project Expenditure Category: 1.8 Other COVID-19 Public Health Expenses (including 

Communications, Enforcement, Isolation/Quarantine)

Project Overview

Funding to provide professional services to collect, analyze, and track pertinent COVID-19 data such 

as infection and transmission rates to inform and assist in mitigating and responding to COVID-19 

within Arapahoe County.

Use of Evidence

Arapahoe County has not determined which interventions or programs will be advanced as part of 

the final recovery plan beyond the initial programmatic areas under consideration and this one that 

has been continued from earlier pandemic relief efforts. Additional information on these 

programmatic approaches will be provided following adoption by the Board of County 

Commissioners.

Project [Identification Number]: Public Facility Cleaning and Mitigation [750531]

Funding amount: $700,000

Project Expenditure Category: 1.12 Other Public Health Services

Project Overview

Provide funding for the supplies, equipment, and staffing for the additional cleaning, sanitizing, and 

disinfecting that is required during the COVID-19 public health emergency to mitigate the spread of 

the virus as well as other supplies and improvements to public spaces to enhance the safety of the 

public and employees.

Use of Evidence
Arapahoe County 2021 Draft Recovery Plan Performance Report 12

Arapahoe County has not determined which interventions or programs will be advanced as part of 

the final recovery plan beyond the initial programmatic areas under consideration and this one that 

has been continued from earlier pandemic relief efforts. Additional information on these 

programmatic approaches will be provided following adoption by the Board of County 

Commissioners.

Project [Identification Number]: Food Assistance [850301]

Funding amount: $600,000

Project Expenditure Category: 2.1 Household Assistance: Food Programs

Project Overview

To provide funding to organizations that are providing food assistance to individuals and families 

within Arapahoe County that have been impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency and the 

corresponding economic hardship.

Use of Evidence

Arapahoe County has not determined which interventions or programs will be advanced as part of 

the final recovery plan beyond the initial programmatic areas under consideration and this one that 

has been continued from earlier pandemic relief efforts. Additional information on these 

programmatic approaches will be provided following adoption by the Board of County 

Commissioners.

Project [Identification Number]: COVID Navigators [850302]

Funding amount: $200,000

Project Expenditure Category: 3.14 Social Determinants of Health: Community Health Workers or 

Benefits Navigators

Project Overview

The COVID-19 Pandemic has created challenges for at-risk adults and families that have significantly 

impacted their physical and mental health and safety and wellbeing. School closures and remotelearning options, coupled with employment impacts, as well as increased isolation and 

vulnerability have resulted in increased emotional and financial stress on at-risk adults and 

families. These additional temporary positions will provide intentional and effective outreach 

during this pandemic to the most vulnerable children, at-risk adults and families in order to provide 

the necessary support to assure their physical, emotional, mental and other needs are met in a way 

that will prevent abuse and neglect.

Use of Evidence

Arapahoe County has not determined which interventions or programs will be advanced as part of 

the final recovery plan beyond the initial programmatic areas under consideration and this one that 

has been continued from earlier pandemic relief efforts. Additional information on these 

programmatic approaches will be provided following adoption by the Board of County 

Commissioners.
Arapahoe County 2021 Draft Recovery Plan Performance Report 13

Performance Report

These programs have been continued from earlier pandemic relief efforts. Arapahoe County has not 

determined which interventions or programs will be advanced as part of the final recovery plan beyond 

the initial programmatic areas under consideration in alignment with new SLFRF reporting requirements 

and guidelines. Additional information on these programmatic approaches will be provided following 

adoption by the Board of County Commissioners.