If your city hasnt begun planning for autonomous vehicles, its not too late but the time for urgency is fast approaching. On March 11, President Joseph R. Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), which established the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. Event Recap: 2021 FES | ACEC-FL Annual Conference, Event Recap: Key Takeaways from the 2019 American Planning Association Conference, A Call to Action for Better Processes in Land Planning, Funding elementary and secondary school emergency relief. However, under the provision of government services, the Final Rule specifically lists maintenance or pay-go funded building of roads as a government service and therefore eligible under revenue loss up to the extent of reduction in revenue. Adequate time should be taken to carefully consider all alternatives for the prudent use of ARPA funding prior to committing the resources to ensure the best use of the temporary funding. He said with the ARPA funds, broadband work can instead all be done at once. For more information and helpful resources on the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, . Were refreshing our brand to reflect the energy, inspiration, and excitement that we feel when we come to work every day. Consider regional initiatives, including partnering with other ARPA recipients. that allow government communication across multiple devices and language can expand the reach of communications, including to low-income community members who, This can also support other initiatives like the, services or outreach to promote access tobehavioralhealth and social services, Enhancement of public health data systems. ARPA funds can be used to support distance learning, tutoring, and after school programs for both K -12 and higher education students These funds can also be directed to support the emotional and mental health needs of students ARPA additionally allocates $7.1 billion for the E -Rate program, Municipalities under 50,000 in population (non-entitlement units) . Ineligible uses of ARPA funds The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued an interim final rule on permissible uses of $350 billion in state and local aid included in the recent American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). ARPA funds are non-recurring so their use should be applied primarily to non-recurring expenditures. The ARPA expressly includes infrastructure if it is necessary and in water, sewer, or broadband, suggesting that the statute contemplates only those types of infrastructure.[5]. Ultimately, this section of the fact sheet suggests that any technology that can help your government support pandemic recovery may be eligible for ARPA funds. ARPA emphasizes the pandemics disproportionate impacts on low-income communities, people of color, and Tribal communities in two areas: (1) higher rates of infection and illness, and (2) higher impacts where COVID exacerbated structural inequities and underinvestment. Any purchases made for otherwise qualified items before March 3, 2021, are not eligible for reimbursement. 2022, MASSACHUSETTS MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION. Fleming Island, FL 32003, 11410 NW 20th Street Swagit hands-free video streaming takes production responsibilities off of your staff, while expanding the reach and accessibility of content. West Palm Beach, FL 33411, 1232 Winter Garden Vineland Road Its a must-read if you want to understand how to use ARPA funds. Suite 124 Eligible projects must be designed to address an identified economic harm resulting from or exacerbated by COVID. That will free up general revenue to be used for traditional local government expenditures. 6. Fiscal Recovery Funds provide flexibility for governments to meet local . Broadband infrastructure eligibility focuses on households and businesses that do not have an existing wireline connection capable of reliably delivering at least 25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload. Of Vermont's $1.25 billion share, over $200 million (about $300 per Vermonter) was allocated to If that project has benefit to the public, it may be eligible to come back into play with ARPA funding. / MTA / JULY 15, 2021 1 . Response to the public health emergency or its negative economic consequences The Treasury Department released an FAQ on the ARPA local fiscal recovery funds. Funding 'About Me' Signed into law in March 2021, the trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is distributing more than $360 billion in infrastructure related funding for state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments, part of which can be used for "government services," particularly of interest to state and local governments preparing for infrastructure projects (). Cities and towns can now use up to $10 million of ARP funds towards general government services under a new "standard allowance" for revenue replacement. Port St. Lucie, FL 34986, 5640 Dillard Drive by Lisa Nisenson, VP, New Mobility and Connected Communities. Whats the Difference Between CARES and ARPA? , lets local government provide better service to diverse community members at scale. Use other dedicated grants and programs first whenever possible and save ARPA funds for priorities not eligible for other federal and state assistance programs. In a nutshell, ARPA provides $350 billion for state, local, territorial, and tribal governments to address COVID-related economic impact through the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. ARPA states that municipal relief funds must be allocated by December 2024. Algoma did receive CARES Act funds last year, he said. If your local governmentis eligible,you must request your funds through theTreasurys submission portal. But to do that, they need property. For more resources on ARPA for local government, we recommend the National League of Cities' COVID-19 Pandemic Response and Relief hub and the National Association of Counties' Overview of the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. . On May 10, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released details on how local government can use ARPA funding. We can provide tips on getting started, including making the case, how to stage projects, engage new stakeholders, and set Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). A municipality may wish to consider the above scenarios in determining the eligibility of a supplemental project that is not specifically identified as eligible to receive CLFRF funds under these provisions. This blog post examines how to position Complete Streets and trails projects for ARPA funding. Along with allocations of funds by government entity, the eight-page fact sheet clarifies uses of funding. Lisa is a respected urban designer known for combining timeless community design and innovation with focus on fast-tracking advanced planning techniques and emerging technologies. The local funding portion is approximately $130 billion, equally divided between cities and counties. Applicants have 60 days to apply for a grant, which can be used to fund new or existing cybersecurity programs. https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/SLFRF-Final-Rule.pdf, https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1319/text#HAECAA3A95C4E4FFAB6AA46CE5F9CB2B5. Government services include, but are not limited to, maintenance or pay-go funded building of infrastructure, including roads; modernization of cybersecurity, including hardware, software, and protection of critical infrastructure; health services; environmental remediation; school or educational services; and the provision of police, fire, and other public safety services. Enter your zip code, and well personalize your experience with local projects, office locations, team members, and more. Also think about KPIs (key performance indicators) you will track to describe project success. As stated in the Department of the (see below), interest earned on ARPA funds are not subject to the requirements of the Interim Final Rule. Unemployment is still high, which meanscommunity members still need support. Communities around the country are developing strategies on how to win and invest American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. In addition, the Treasury guidance allows for spending on cybersecurity aimed at protecting water and sewer infrastructure; projects promoting climate change resilience (for instance, reducing energy consumption on water and sewer facilities); and lead water line service replacement. "While we can weather it for this year and use ARPA funds, that's at the cost of not doing something else with those ARPA funds", said County Administrator David Berry. Revenue replacement ARPA funds will be issued in two tranches to local governments. The Treasury did not release funding amounts for Tribal governments, as they will receive allocation information after submitting their funding applications. Gainesville, FL 32606, 2727 Allen Parkway Technology certainly supports your city or countys pandemic recovery and creates sustainable, equitable government processes for the future. The American Rescue Plan Act specifically calls for its funds to be used to support the public health and economic impacts of these communities. Services to address individuals experiencing homelessnessis highlighted as an eligible service. The $1.9 trillion legislation is in addition to nearly $4 trillion in COVID relief provided in 2020. To complete the submission for Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery funds, you will need to provide the following information on behalf of your organization: Though there is no application deadline as of the publication of this article, funding requests for those who have completed applications are already being fulfilled. "Projects may include, but are not limited to green roofs, bioretention . Recipients seeking to identify the categories of projects that would be eligible to receive funding assistance should check the EPAs website for possible additional resources available in the event a project is not clearly eligible for CLFRF funds. We urge the House, Senate, and governor to join many other states in using ARPA funds for repairs of roads and bridges, and take a bold step to finally reverse decades of underinvestment in some . Metropolitan cities will receive $45.57 billion, with fundsallocated based on the existing HUD. The money can used for water, sewer, and broadband improvements, to offset lost revenue from the Coronavirus pandemic, and more. Software can also helpmeet the Treasurysquarterly reporting requirements. Reg. Treasury also released details on how these funds can be used to respond to acute pandemic response needs, fill revenue Funds will be allocated based on population size, but cannot exceed 75% of that unit of governments most recent budget. According to the, Support urgent COVID-19 response efforts to continue to decrease spread of the virus and bring the pandemic under control, Replace lost revenue for eligible state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to strengthen support for vital public services and help retain jobs, Support immediate economic stabilization for households and businesses, Address systemic public health and economic challenges that have contributed to the inequal. This removes the need to prove that the pandemic was the specific or only cause of cancelled initiatives. [7] Environmental Protection Agency, Drinking Water State Revolving fund, https://www.epa.gov/dwsrf (last visited Apr. ARPA provided $350 billion in state and local aid under what's known as the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds program. Please click here for GFOAs analysis of ARPA. Suite 200 Whatareyour pandemic-related pain points, and how have those affected your ability to operate? About ARPA The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 established the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CSLFRF, aka ARPA) which provides $350 billion to state and local governments across the nation for the response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Local governments have until December 31, 2024 to allocate their ARPA funds. Suite 1750 Local governments can use ARPA funds to cover costs incurred by Dec. 31, 2024, to: Provide government services affected by a revenue reduction during the pandemic (in the most recent full fiscal year prior to the emergency); thus, a local unit may use the money to replace the amount of revenue lost during the pandemic compared to the prior full . Funding is one time in two phases. However, regarding infrastructure projects, the Final Rule states: General infrastructure projects, including roads, streets, and surface transportation infrastructure, would generally not be eligible, unless the project responded to a specific pandemic public health need or a specific negative economic impact. Premium pay for employees who were able to telework during the public health emergency Temporary Nature of ARPA Funds. Here are some key ways metropolitan cities and NEUs are allocating their SLFRF dollars for infrastructure projects: Public Space: Williamsburg, Virginia allocated $900,000 of the city's ARPA funds to enhance a playground at Waller Mill Park. [6] Treas. The Department of Treasury has provided guidance that ARPA funds may be used to make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure. The Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CLFRF) provide recipients with broad latitude to use funds for the provision of government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue due to the COVID-19 public health emergency relative to revenues collected in the most recent full fiscal year prior to the emergency.. Though both contained economic relief for state and local government, CARES and ARPA have different funding allocations, requirements for spending, and fund usage deadlines. Can ARPA Funds Be UsedOnMulti-Year Contracts? :Omnichannel communication is critical for getting prevention and vaccine information to diverse communities. Local government processes could range from: Your technology project is more likely to be funded if you present a coherentplan. Reg. If you are considering new programs and positions, determine how to sustain these programs once the APRA funds have been expended. 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