revised 2/15/2011

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 is intended to provide a stimulus to the U.S. economy in response to the national economic downturn.  The Act is designed to preserve and create jobs, provide assistance to low income workers and the unemployed, promote economic recovery, improve infrastructure, develop energy independence, expand educational opportunities, address health care needs, homeland security and law enforcement enhancements, along with stabilizing state and local government budgets to minimize and avoid reductions in essential services. 

The City of San Luis Obispo has been active in seeking assistance through various federal programs and affiliated state agencies.  This webpage will be updated periodically to keep citizens informed on grants submitted under ARRA by the City .  If you have any questions about a particular grant, please contact the person listed below.

Federal Program Allocations (Formula-based Grants)

Federal Department:  Department of Energy
Federal Program:  Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant
Amount:  $199,400
City Department:  Community Development, Public Works
Staff Contact:  Kim Murry – (805)781-7274
Status:  Grant awarded.  Status Report as of February, 2011
Project Title:  Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programs
Project Description:  Completion of connection of bike trail between Prado and LOVR ($150,000).  Development of a Climate Action Plan ($30,000). Market Study for Energy Financing District or Development of Green Build Ordinance ($19,400)

Federal Department:  Federal Transit Administration
Federal Program:  American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Section 5307
Amount:  $405,000
City Department:  Public Works, Finance and Information Technology
Staff Contact:  John Webster – (805)781-7121
Status:  Complete
Project Title:  Bus AVL – Passenger Access
Project Description:  Replace SLO Transit’s Efficient Deployment of Advanced Public Transportation Systems (EDAPTS) as our bus information and locator system.

Federal Department:  Federal Transit Administration
Federal Program:  American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Section 5307
Amount:  $400,000
City Department:  Public Works, Finance and Information Technology
Staff Contact:  John Webster – (805)781-7121
Status:  Complete
Project Title:  GFI Bus Farebox Upgrade
Project Description:  Upgrade for SLO Transit vehicles with GFI Odyssey model validating fare boxes and will allow expanded fare media including smart cards.

Federal Department:  Federal Transit Administration
Federal Program:  American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Section 5307
Amount:  $68,660
City Department:  Public Works, Finance and Information Technology
Staff Contact:  John Webster – (805)781-7121
Status:  Complete
Project Title:  Transit Facility Improvements
Project Description:  Transit facility improvements and equipment such as the existing bus wash, signs, parking lot, office furniture, fiber optic, cabling, computers and monitors, etc.

Federal Department:  Federal Transit Administration
Federal Program:  American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Section 5307
Amount:  $150,000
City Department:  Public Works
Staff Contact:  John Webster – (805)781-7121
Status:  Complete
Project Title:  Preventive Maintenance
Project Description:  Funding used to pay for SLO Transit preventive maintenance expenses in FY 2009-2010

Federal Department:  Department of Justice
Federal Program:  Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Grant (JAG)
Amount:  $78,925
City Department:  Police
Staff Contact:  Melissa Ellsworth – (805)781-7019
Status:  Grant awarded and funded
Project Title:  Records Division Staffing and Job Preservation Project
Project Description:  Funding a ½ time Records Clerk position for two years.

Federal Department:  Department of Energy
Federal Program:  Clean Cities Grant
Amount:   $110,000
City Department:  Public Works
Staff Contact:  Dave Smith – (805)781-7209
Status:  Not selected for funding
Project Title:  Propane Powered Trucks and Fueling Site
Project Description:  Submittal to fund incremental costs of several propane-powered truck replacements and shared cost funding for installation of a propane fueling site at the City Corporation Yard.

Federal Department:  Department of Housing and Urban Development
Federal Program:  Community Development Block Grant
Amount:   $151,592
City Department:  Public Works
Staff Contact:  Bridget Fraser – (805)781-7192
Status:  Grant awarded and funded.  Construction completed for Meadow and Mitchell Park restrooms.  Remaining Mitchell funds reallocated to correct ADA compliance issues with walkway at Meadow Park. Santa Rosa Park restroom replacement design phase is complete and project is approved for advertising for construction bids.
Project Title:  Restroom Remodel/Replacements
Project Description:  Remodel of Meadow and Mitchell park restrooms for ADA compliance and replacement of Santa Rosa Park restroom. Description modified to include additional ADA walkway compliance corrections at Meadow Park.

Federal Department:  Department of Homeland Security
Federal Program:  Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
Amount:   $118,600
City Department:  Fire, Public Works
Staff Contact:  Julia Cox – (805)781-7382
Status:  6/9/10-Not selected for funding.
Project Title:  Replace Slab in the Engine Bay at Fire Station #3 (Laurel Lane/Augusta)
Project Description:  Remove and replace engine bay slab and reinforce foundation of interior block wall at Fire Station #3. 

Competitive Grants

Federal Department:  Department of Justice
Federal Program:  Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Recovery Program
Amount:  $863,734
City Department:  Police
Staff Contact:  Melissa Ellsworth – (805)781-7019
Status:  Funds not awarded for FY 2009, application is pending for possible funding in FY 2010
Project Title:  Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants
Project Description:  Creating a Neighborhood Policing Plan that will compliment and expand upon existing partnerships between the City of San Luis Obispo police department and neighborhood residents and associations, university and community college, community groups, and other governmental agencies.   Funding is for two officers to fulfill the need.

Federal Department:  Department of Transportation
Federal Program:   American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
Amount:   $1,191,000
City Department:  Public Works
Staff Contact:  Dan Van Beveren – (805)783-7715
Status:  Project awarded to Granite Construction Company.  Construction began in January 2011.  Scheduled completion by April 2011.
Project Title:  Monterey Street Rehabilitation-California Blvd to 101 Freeway
Project Description:  Pavement Rehabilitation and Sidewalk Replacement

Federal Department:  Environmental Protection Agency
Federal Program:  Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund
Amount:  
City Department:  Utilities
Staff Contact:  Ron Munds – (805)781-7258
Status:  Application in progress
Project Title:  Water Reclamation Facility Master Plan
Project Description:  Prepare a master plan for future improvements to the Water Reclamation Facility.

Federal Department:  Department of Transportation
Federal Program:  Grants for Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Tiger Discretionary Grant (TIGER)
Amount:   $15,000,000
City Department:  Public Works
Staff Contact:  Jay Walter – (805)781-7200
Status:  Not selected for funding
Project Title:  US 101/Los Osos Valley Road Interchange Reinvestment/Improvement Project
Project Description:  Address current regional and local traffic demands on state and local roadways; provide essential backbone infrastructure for City’s Airport Area.