Information Related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Metro Nashville Information Related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Overview of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)

The Recovery Act signed into law by President Obama on February 17th, 2009 includes measures to modernize our nation's infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need. The Federal Government is dedicated to assuring that ARRA funds are used for these purposes and urges citizens to report any instances of suspected waste or misuse of ARRA funding by contacting FraudNet.

Implementing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Mayor Karl DeanThe implementation of the ARRA has created many opportunities for the Metropolitan Government to receive funding for programs and projects that will have a lasting impact on the city of Nashville and its residents. Although not a panacea, these limited one-time funds will help reinvigorate our economy during this national recession.

With millions of dollars potentially available to invest in environmental, education, public safety, and economic development initiatives, the Metropolitan Government is committed to ensuring that we are positioned to receive the greatest level of funding possible. Please check this website regularly for the latest ARRA information and to stay informed about the efforts being made by the Metropolitan Government to secure funding for our communities.
- Karl F. Dean, Mayor

ARRA Funding for Metro

To date, Metro departments (apart from Metro Nashville Public Schools) have been awarded a total of 25 ARRA grants with a value of over $35 million, and applied for eight additional grants valued at a total of over $73 million.

Grants Awarded to Date
Program Funding Amount
*Energy Efficiency $250,000.00
Infrastructure (street paving, traffic signals, etc.) $11,773,331.00
Public Safety/Justice (e.g., Police Officers, Drug Courts, Police services for domestic violence victims) $13,796,601.00
Social Services (e.g., Head Start, basic needs assistance) $2,779,588.00
Workforce Development $7,167,429.00
* A total of $6.2 million has been allocated for Metro in Energy Efficiency “formula” funds; $250 thousand is the initial installment of the grant.
Grants Applications in Process
Program Funding Amount
Infrastructure (sidewalks, etc.) $66,528,000.00
Public Safety/Justice (fire station, staff for courts, etc.) $5,335,997.20
Social Services (Early Head Start, etc.) $1,719,606.00

More detailed information on these grants and applications can be viewed in Metro ARRA Grants Awards and Metro ARRA Grants Applications.

There are several other ARRA programs for which Metro is eligible, for which Metro has not yet applied. This includes funding for Broadband Development, Community Development, Workforce Development for emerging professions such as green energy and healthcare, a competitive Energy Efficiency grant. If Metro departments develop applications for any of these, they will be added to the list attached.

Metro ARRA Senior Accountable Officials

As a recipient of ARRA funding passed through the State of Tennessee, Metro Nashville is required to have a Senior Accountable Official (SAO) who is responsible for Metro’s compliance with the requirements of the ARRA. The SAO has oversight responsibility for all parties responsible for accounting, reporting, purchasing and other duties associated with ARRA grant compliance. The Metro-wide ARRA SAO is Finance Director Richard Riebeling. Each Metro department that receives funding from ARRA also has a departmental Senior Accountable Official.

Mayor's Certifications on Infrastructure Projects

Frequently Asked Questions

How will the ARRA funds be distributed?
This varies depending on the grant. Many of the ARRA grants are distributed as “add-ons” to existing grants for certain Metro departments. This includes, for example, funds for Head Start (Metro Action Commission) or Workforce Investment Act Job Training programs (Nashville Career Advancement Center).

Other funds are being distributed via special processes regularly used to distribute particular Federal funds. For example, the Infrastructure grants received by the Public Works and Parks departments were allocated by the Metro Planning Organization.
Metro departments will have to submit applications to compete against other applicants for many other grants, such as grants for broadband development or for crime victim assistance.
Does ARRA funding impose special requirements for Metro?
Yes, in addition to normal Federal grant requirements, ARRA grants
  • Have to be spent very quickly for maximum immediate impact on the economy
  • Are short term – funds will last no longer than 2-3 years
  • Must be segregated from any other funds used by Metro departments
  • Require frequent, detailed reports on grant results, such as number of jobs created or preserved
Any Metro department receiving ARRA funds needs to be prepared for these requirements.
How is Metro mobilizing for receipt of ARRA funding?
The Division of Grants Coordination in the Finance Department is coordinating Metro’s response to ARRA, which has included -
  • Getting information to the relevant departments on ARRA grants applicable to Metro
  • Assisting Metro department staff to take advantage of appropriate grants
  • Tracking all Metro ARRA grant applications and contracts
  • Streamlining Metro approval processes where needed so grant funding can be accepted and spent quickly. This includes approval processes for both grant acceptance and contracts/procurement under grants.
  • Assuring Metro department’s compliance with such special ARRA requirements as the segregation of ARRA funds within the Metro fiscal system (see “For Metro Departments Receiving ARRA Funds” below)
How do I find out about ARRA dollars spent for my Council district / neighborhood / favorite service?
Currently grants are listed by grant program title, and it is often possible to identify the service provided by reading the title of the program. There is no way at this time to pinpoint specific sites for expenditure of ARRA grant funding unless the grant title includes that information. As more detailed information becomes available to Metro, it will be made available to the public.
How do you apply for ARRA funding?
At this time, Metro government has no plans to grant any ARRA funding it receives to any other parties, so there is no process for applying to Metro government for ARRA funding. To view ARRA grants which can be applied for from the Federal government directly, please visit the Grants.gov website. Visit the Tennessee recovery website for more information on ARRA grants available through the State.
Who shall I contact for questions on Metro ARRA funding?
You may contact Tiffy Barnett at 862-5443.

For Metro Departments Receiving ARRA Funds

Many Metro departments are accustomed to receiving and managing Federal grants, but the management of ARRA grant funding is not “business as usual”. The Division of Grants Coordination (DGC) and the Office of Financial Accountability (OFA) are committed to assuring that Metro departments who receive ARRA funds are “ARRA-ready” and prepared to comply with all ARRA requirements. DGC and OFA will be providing risk assessments, training, and technical assistance to accomplish that goal. The following “ARRA Recipient Toolbox” is another resource for recipients who need to understand what is required.

Recovery.gov logo Visit Recovery.gov for more information related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

To report any instances of fraud, waste, or abuse of ARRA funding, contact FraudNet.

If you have any difficulty opening any files on this page, please contact Tiffy Barnett at tiffy.barnett@nashville.gov.

THIS GOVERNMENT IS A RECIPIENT OF AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT FUNDS. IF YOU HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF ANY ACTIVITY WHICH YOU CONSIDER TO BE ILLEGAL, IMPROPER, OR WASTEFUL, PLEASE CALL THE STATE COMPTROLLER’S TOLL-FREE HOTLINE: 1-800-232-5454