What is the selection criteria?

Small Business and Nonprofit Assistance: ($6 Million)

Outside Agency: ($1.5 Million)

Because of $9.6 Million dollars of requests during the public budget hearings, there is clear and ample need; this would increase the opportunity to serve organizations; This support would be general funding and not require the health nexus in addition to the annual allocation from the Health fund.

Application Process:

Would Occur during the next regular cycle of the 2024 budget cycle.

Small Business Revolving loan Funds & Business Stabilization $4.5 Million:

Requested by constituents during several town halls; this is a program meant to support growing small businesses through the establishment of revolving loan funds that will support small businesses directly (under 100 employees); up to 20K grants per businesses that have been established for at least two years and looking to grow and who had not previously received any of the Covid-19 relief programs through the SBA; at least 200 businesses helped (4mil, divided by 20k=200 businesses). Open to organizations with established business licenses, with preferences to nonprofit organizations or associations. To apply for funds business owners must possess controlling interest in said business, be actively registered within the state, and be a resident of Jackson County for at least 2 years.

Application Process:

Ideal applicants would be organizations able to administer fund distributions to small businesses that meet specific criteria to manage the revolving loan fund itself. Preference will be given to nonprofit organizations that have experience in or access to small businesses that have needs to support their growth. Administrative fee’s can be up to 12% of total request.

Small Business recipients must meet at least these qualifications; this is a program meant to support growing small businesses through the establishment of revolving loan funds that will support small businesses directly (under 100 employees); up to 20K grants per businesses that have been established for at least two years and looking to grow and who had not previously received any of the Covid-19 relief programs through the SBA; at least 200 businesses helped. To apply for funds business owners must possess controlling interest in said business, be actively registered within the state, and be a resident of Jackson County for at least 2 years. Repayment cycles should be established by the administrative organization and the best made plan/s can will be selected.

Childcare Facility improvements/capacity building ($3 Million):

Access to affordable childcare has the growth potential to increase employment within communities while simultaneously expanding household income for residents. The limited access to infant and pre-k seats is challenging and this investment will allow existing childcare facilities the opportunity to expand its available seats through a one-time investment into their operations. The goal is to provide Jackson County residents with a greater opportunity to enroll their children in pre-school aged programs. Ideal candidates would have the capacity to increase operations and have a proven track record of success in communities with greatest need and lowest available seats for enrollment, based upon the Mid-America Regional Council’s data on childcare accessibility.

Application process:

Preference will be given using MARC’s childcare data, this fund is to stimulate childcare access through infrastructure or programmatic investments for areas within MARC’s defined Childcare deserts; applicants must be within areas that have a % of population of children under age 5 years of age below poverty, that are over a total of 7%; and whom also are within a census track that has a median household income under $60,000.

Using the Greater Kansas City Early Learning Landscape regional data tool that can be found here: Early Learning | MARC

Due to the high need for childcare (infant and pre-school) within communities of need to ensure those with children can appropriately work with children who aren't old enough to attend school; this will be block grant forms of between $100,000 and $1,000,000 per organization/entity; meant to improve infrastructure for these facilities to expand access and opportunity for Jackson Countians to receive childcare and reduce the gaps based upon the MARC data. Organizations who receive this grant must provide a reduced rate for Jackson County residents.

Greater Kansas City Early Learning Landscape (GKC-ELL) - a regional data tool (marc2.org)

Missouri_BBB-State-Fact-Sheet.pdf (whitehouse.gov)

Senior Facility Program ($2 Million)

Up to 40% of the population in the state of Missouri are over 50 years of age. This is meant to support physical infrastructure for senior service centers that can provide greater quality of life outcomes for seniors. From, greater access to skilled nursing centers, access to affordable independent living or assisted living facilities, access to affordable hospice care; to basic health or community center improvements and expansions. As our county’s population continues to age, the goal is to ensure this generation of constituents has a dignified and affordable support system to live out their remaining years in comfort.

Accepting proposals to provide greater access to skilled nursing centers, access to affordable independent living or assisted living facilities, access to affordable hospice care; to basic health or community center improvements and expansions, grants can be from $50k -$1Million dollars grants, impacting 2-40 organizations ($2mil/divided by 50K=40). These organizations must be located within Jackson County, serve a majority of seniors 62 or older and provide direct benefit to Jackson County residents with either discounted access or new facility creation.

Missouri Senior Living Statistics & Facts | Stats about Seniors in Missouri — Life Expectancy & Demographics

Community Spaces & Parks ($5 Million)

With 100’s of millions of dollars in differed maintenance in cities within the County, and a County operations where an overwhelming majority of parks services and access is focused in our eastern portion of the County. This effort will provide grants to community centered spaces or places for infrastructure projects that provide greater quality of life outcomes based upon MARC’s determinants of health data. By improving community gathering places and offering greater neighborhood focused investments we believe that we increase the broad health of our shared community. Everyone should have access to a safe place to thrive in this County.

This grant must be applied for by agencies with the authority to implement the changes (example” City Parks Department, Municipal Administrator.) with neighborhood support. Project proposals must be shovel ready and be within Jackson County. This effort will provide grants to community centered spaces or places in the some of $25k-$1.250 million per project, for infrastructure projects that provide greater quality of life outcomes based upon MARC’s determinants of health data, where life expectancy is more than five years differing from the national average. A total of 200 to 4 Large improvements can be completed. Please include budget or pro forma information and potential impact of the investment.

Greater Kansas City Early Learning Landscape (GKC-ELL) - a regional data tool (marc2.org)

Parks, Recreation and Green Spaces | Active People, Healthy Nation | Physical Activity | CDC

Crime Prevention Program Support: ($1Million)

These efforts would be to fund programing, or efforts to reduce crime and violence within the County. Whether that be through gun buyback programing, youth engagement strategies or other effective and measured efforts to reduce violent crime within high crime communities. Proposals must be from organizations with at least two years of business operations and can provide a measured process to gauge success.

Justice Diversion Center: ($500,000)

This effort is to support efforts to directly reduce incarceration and prioritize diversion programming. Organizations can apply for pilot programs but must have experience or collaborative solutions models to create appropriate programming that diverts Jackson Countians from entering the criminal justice system initially or again. Administrative costs can not be over 12% of the total request.

Reproduction Equity Fund: ($1 Million)

These resources are allocated to non-profit organizations to allow for direct access for those seeking reproduction equity, survivors’ services (like counseling, therapies, etc.) to assist individuals impacted within the County, or other programs that address access to reproductive health within the County or current residents seeking services outside the County that don’t currently exist within it or the State.

The County is seeking proposals to facilitate these efforts to allow for greater access for residents. Grants can range from $10,000-$500,000 dollars and administrative fees cannot be over12% of the total budget.

Food Desert/Insecurity: ($4 Million)

Accessibility to culturally appropriate and healthy food is critical to a fully functional society. This grant seeks proposals that would help bridge the divide and create accessible options for areas within viable grocery options. These investments would provide infrastructure support for urban and rural grocery stores to ensure everyone has access to good, culturally appropriate grocery stores with fresh food.

Senior Home Repairs: ($1 Million)

The goal is to provide seniors, who own their homes free and clear with up to 10K per household to assist with minor or major home repairs. Priority is given to those who have established financial need, but also to those with needs that can be accomplished to allow said senior to age in place and enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Neighborhood Housing Stabilization: ($4 Million)

These dollars are meant to activate abandoned housing stock, create in-fill housing or activate areas of neighborhoods that have been otherwise blighted. Whether this be through utilization of the abandoned housing act or other mechanisms to attempt to rehab currently abandoned housing stock within Jackson County or to assist with gap funding to dramatically increase housing availability within neighborhoods with need. Projects must be shovel ready and if already partially funded, have a clear and articulated need for gap funding. Utilization of these dollars will activate the need for a prevailing wage and these funds will require a plan for reduced rates or greater accessibility and priority to Jackson County residents.

Density Housing: ($5 Million)

These dollars are to be used to help stimulate or contribute to gap funding for density focused housing. Projects with over 6 units within, or projects with repair of more than 10 units are to be focused on within Jackson County. This investment is meant to activate otherwise inactive units, to increase access to affordable housing stock within Jackson County communities of need. Projects must be shovel ready and if currently under construction must show a clear and compelling case for gap funding. Utilization of these dollars will activate the need for a prevailing wage and will require a plan for reduced rates or greater accessibility and priority to Jackson County residents.

Veteran Housing: ($1 Million)

Although there are several programs focused on veteran housing, there are still gaps leaving some members of the veteran community without access. These funds can be used for addressing veteran homelessness issues, downpayment assistance or other efforts within Jackson County. Projects must be shovel ready and if currently under construction must show a clear and compelling case for gap funding. Utilization of these dollars will activate the need for a prevailing wage and will require a plan for reduced rates or greater accessibility and priority to Jackson County residents.

Initiatives to Address Homelessness ($1 Million):

Although many resources are spent towards ending homelessness, these funds are meant to help address gaps with intervention programing, services to lift folks out of homelessness or any other means to end homelessness within the County. Projects must be shovel ready and if currently under construction must show a clear and compelling case for gap funding. Utilization of these dollars will activate the need for a prevailing wage and will require a plan for reduced rates or greater accessibility and priority to Jackson County residents.

Homeownership through Rehab ($1 Million):

For current residents within Jackson County to assist with renters wanting to take on a rehabilitation of a current residential property with the intent to live within the same property. This is meant for home ownership, and not for the creation of residual income or investment properties.

Foreclosure or Eviction Prevention: ($1 Million)

Whether it be residual impacts from the COVID-19 economy or the cripple impacts of dramatic and unplanned for property tax increases, these funds are meant to provide immediate relief for those on fixed, low-income or due to dramatic loss of employment for Jackson County Residents. Residents must have a clear plan to get back on their feet beyond the next month and is meant to reduce the amount of default, foreclosures or eviction.