COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County is pleased to announce that more than 50 local small business owners have submitted applications for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds through Los Alamos County’s online Small Business Recovery Assistance Program, ARPA.losalamosnm.us.
Sept. 1, the County’s Community Development Department launched an application process with the goal of providing financial assistance to those local small businesses that have struggled due to the negative economic impacts caused by COVID-19 restrictions. Applicants able to demonstrate eligibility will have the opportunity to receive a portion of the $2 million dollar allocation to assist in their recovery. Applications will be accepted until Nov. 1, 2024, or until the $2 million ARPA funds are fully obligated, whichever comes first. To date, no applications have made it through the process to approval or disbursement.
This past week, county staff interviewed all individuals involved in the application process to identify challenges, then updated the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the webpage, ARPA.losalamosnm.us.
“This is a complex process for everyone involved,” said County Economic Development Administrator Dan Ungerleider. “And we recognize it can be an emotional one for business owners who are being asked to justify and quantify the struggles they’ve had keeping the doors open during the pandemic.”
Ungerleider said the County has established a system and protocols to help small businesses qualify for and receive ARPA funding through a process that is transparent, flexible and auditable.
Ungerleider encourages prospective applicants to use all available resources:
- Application Portal/Website: ARPA.losalamosnm.us is the dedicated webpage or portal on the County’s website that features the funding application and all pertinent information regarding eligibility and the process.
- Application Processor: Victoria Pacheco, Economic Development Division Management Analyst, is the dedicated point of contact for processing funding applications, with support from Economic Development Administrator Dan Ungerleider and Community Development Department Director Paul Andrus.
- Consultant Team: Directors for the Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation, the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce, and the Small Business Development Center are available to assist business owners in the application process.
Victoria Pacheco who has been assisting applicants every day since the program launched Sept. 1 said, “Reach out early and often—the moment you find something about the application difficult or confusing, please don’t hesitate to contact me for assistance in order to keep your application moving forward.”
Once the application is deemed complete, it will be audited by County Chief Financial Officer and Acting Administrative Services Department Director Helen Perraglio, then approved by County Manager Steve Lynne. A grant agreement will be issued for signature that will define the terms of funding disbursement depending upon the type of recovery grant program selected (Financial Hardship, Technical Assistance, and/or Deferred Investment). The agreement also serves as the mechanism by which the County can pay out funds.
