In any city, county, or state government's budget, the Grants Department acts as a force multiplier, supplementing the various budgets with funds applied for through outside resources. In the case of Laramie County, Grants Manager Sandra Bay and her team apply for multiple state and federal grant opportunities that directly impact the needs of our county agencies, and the community served.
I have worked closely with Sandra over the years as she assisted the Sheriff's Office with State and Federal Victim's Assistance funding, which benefits Laramie County Residents who have been victims of domestic violence and other crimes, purchasing various pieces of equipment from bulletproof vests to vehicles and countless other funding opportunities too numerous to mention in one article.
Sandra's recent achievement in securing the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding is particularly noteworthy. Over the past several years, she has brought in tens of millions of dollars in ARPA funds, which have been instrumental in acquiring heavy equipment for the Public Works department, equipment for the Sheriff's Office, providing supplemental pay for eligible county employees during the COVID Pandemic, and acquiring Emergency Management equipment, among other uses.
Applying for grants and tracking them is a significant undertaking. With State or Federal funding, there are serious accountability requirements regarding how the money is disbursed. Each grant has conditions that Sandra and her team must follow to the letter and are subject to audits. Sandra and her team's meticulous approach to this process ensures that every dollar is used responsibly and effectively.
For the past 14 years, Sandra has been Laramie County's secret weapon in procuring funding above and beyond what is achievable through general budget resources.