The American Rescue Plan Act, signed into law on March 11, 2021, provides $350 billion in funding to equitably assist Americans who are suffering from the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It includes significant federal resources to support a strong public health response and vaccination strategy, to provide direct assistance to families, and to deliver resources to local governments to use in their own communities.
Hamilton County's ARPA Plan
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Hamilton County Commissioners have been a driving force in ensuring that no tool or resource is left untapped. From creating the 513Relief Bus that brings resources directly to residents, to developing grant programs and forging strong partnerships with community leaders, nonprofits, businesses, and healthcare providers - the commissioners have worked nonstop to "build a strong, resilient, and equitable recovery by making investments that support long-term growth and opportunity" as outlined by the U.S. Department of Treasury.
On July 1, 2021, the Board of County Commissioners approved the strategic uses for Hamilton County's $158.8 million ARPA allocation to maximize benefits particularly in communities suffering disproportionate health and economic impacts.
Funding priorities were placed in four buckets:
ARPA Funding Buckets - Public Health- $15.5M, Addressing Negative Economic Impacts - $88.4M, Premium Pay - $2.4M, Community Infrastructure - $19M, Revenue Replacement - $32M, and Administrative - $1.5M
Hamilton County's Process
The County's plan was based public input (May 25 and May 27, 2021 public hearings) and an approach that included both short-term programming to address urgent economic and health issues and a longer-term process to develop strategies for addressing larger, systemic community problems exacerbated by COVID-19. Stakeholder meetings were held to determine long-term solutions in six key areas:
- Public Health and Community Resiliency
- Strengthening Behavioral and Mental Health Programming
- Affordable Housing and Preservation
- Homeless Prevention
- Workforce Development
- Youth Development
You can read the Ernst and Young report from the stakeholder meeting here.
All ARPA funds must be dedicated to programs by December 31, 2024. Projects must be completed and all funds distributed by December 31, 2026.
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