Data & Resources

American Rescue Plan Act overview

Contact: Jacob Ewing

Table of contents

• How can cities use ARPA funds? (update 12/23/21)
• Resources (updated 12/23/21)
• FAQ
• Other programs & funds (updated 12/23/21)
• City ARPA plans (updated 12/23/21)

How can cities use ARPA funds?

Cities can use ARPA funds to:

• Support public health expenditures;
• Address the negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency;
• Replace lost public sector revenue;
• Provide premium pay for essential workers; and
• Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure.

Cities have until December 31, 2024, to obligate funds and until December 31, 2026, to spend funds.

For more details on how cities can use funds, please review Treasury’s fact sheet.

Resource list

MRSC

• Employee bonuses and the COVID-19 pandemic (Added 12/23/21)
• Vaccine incentive policies in the local government workplace (Added 12/23/21)
• MRSC Insight: American Rescue Plan provides more relief to local governments
• Treasury issues guidance for local fiscal recovery funds
• Revenue reduction calculator

NLC

• Local fiscal recovery funds playbook (Added 12/23/21)
• ARPA & equity – Longterm planning for local governments
• COVID-19: Municipal employee vaccine mandates
• Creating equity for the early childhood workforce
• ARPA clean water infrastructure fact sheet
• American Rescue Plan: Opportunities to Fund Water Infrastructure Priorities
• Leveraging ARPA funding for local vaccine promotion
• Leveraging ARPA fiscal recovery funds to support small businesses
• COVID-19: Local action tracker (including ARPA plans)
• How to use Coronavirus state & local recovery funds to ease budget shortfalls
• How to meet the reporting requirements for Coronavirus state & local recovery funds
• ARPA local recovery funds: What’s in it for connectivity and technology?
• Using American Rescue Plan Act funds for water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure projects
• How ARPA is impacting water infrastructure (Webinar)
• Loss revenue calculator
• Federal advocacy update call: Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Fund Treasury Department guidance – May 12
• ARP local relief frequently asked questions (FAQ)
• American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 – Summary of provisions
• NLC/U.S. Department of Treasury guidance letter
• Everything you need to know about COVID relief
• A local leader’s guide to talking about the American Rescue Plan Act

Federal

• NEU agreements and supporting documents user guide (Added 12/23/21)
• NEU distribution templates user guide (Added 12/23/21)
• NEU: Getting started using Treasury’s reporting portal (12/23/21)
• Interim reports and recovery plan performance reports – 2021 (12/23/21)
• Treasury webpage: Coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds
• Compliance and reporting guidance – State and local fiscal recovery funds
• Coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds frequently asked questions
• Coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds frequently asked questions on distribution of funds to non-entitlement units of local government
• Update on interpretation for the 75% budget cap calculation
• Treasury interim final rule
• EPA: Drinking water state revolving fund eligibility handbook
• EPA: Overview of clean water state revolving fund eligibilities
• Coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds for non-entitlement units of local government
• Guidance on distribution of funds to non-entitlement units of local government
• Guidance for non-entitlement cities
• Allocations for metropolitan cities (does not include non-entitlement cities)
• How entitlement cities request funding
• Bill language
• White House: American Rescue Plan summary
• White House: American Rescue Plan summary – Washington
• Help is here for you! How to access your benefits under the American Rescue Plan
• EDA: American Recuse Plan Grant Programs

AWC

• Treasury announces ARPA reporting tool for NEUs (Added 12/23/21)
• IRS issues guidance regarding ARPA assistance to individual taxpayers (Added 12/23/21)
• Treasury issues clarification on ARPA spending under Interim Final Rule (Added 12/23/21)
• Treasury extends deadlines for submitting 2021 ARPA reports (Added 12/23/21)
• Webinar: How cities plan to invest ARPA funds 2021 (Recording | Slides)
• State distributes remaining ARPA funds to NEUs
• Tips for cities navigating premium pay during the pandemic
• State releases information to non-entitlement cities on how to receive ARPA funds
• Treasury publishes guidance for non-entitlement cities
• Treasury provides pre-award requirements for cities to receive federal ARP funds
• The American Rescue Plan Act fact sheet
• Five things to consider as you plan to use your city’s ARP allocation

State

• State Auditor: Do you need a federal single audit for 2020 or 2021? You might for the first time! Prepare early with these five tips

FAQ

The Treasury Department released an FAQ on the ARPA local fiscal recovery funds. The document provides a comprehensive overview of how funds from the program can be spent. The Treasury also published an FAQ specifically for non-entitlement units of government.

NLC also published an FAQ which is available here.

If you have a question you would like answered, please contact Jacob Ewing

Other available funds & programs

The American Rescue Plan Act created a number of programs addressing rental assistance, business supports, school reopenings, vaccine distribution, and more. As information becomes available, we will post direct links to these funds and programs.

• Treasury: COVID-19 economy relief
• US Economic Development Administration: Good Jobs Challenge Grant (Added August 3, 2021)
• US Economic Development Administration: Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant
• US Economic Development Administration: Travel, tourism & outdoor recreation
• NLC: ARP – Summary of provisions
• Partnership for Our Food Security

City ARPA plans

Below are links to resources and articles outlining cities’ plans for using ARPA funds. If you would like to share your city’s plan, please email Jacob Ewing.

City plans & ordinances

• Edmonds
• Kenmore
• Moses Lake
• Pasco
• Seattle

City public outreach

• Lakewood
• Spokane

Additional articles

• Auburn: Auburn City Council approves contract for police body cameras, Tasers
• Cheney: City Council allocates money for eviction assistance
• East Wenatchee: East Wenatchee provides YWCA and Women’s Resource Center ARPA funding
• Kenmore: Economic relief available for low-income Kenmore residents
• Lake Stevens: Lake Stevens council set to disperse $9.5 million in ARPA funds
• Pasco: Pasco City Council approves $2.7 million for small business assistance (Added 12/23/21)
• Port Angeles: Port Angeles city of council pledges funds for Peninsula Behavioral Health Project
• Poulsbo: ARPA: Restore positions, help nonprofits and charities
• Spokane: Spokane city council approves ordinance funding two American Rescue Plan project employees
• Tacoma: Tacoma establishes two grant programs to support non-profits and local businesses (Added 12/23/21)
• Walla Walla: American Rescue Plan will fund new police hires, fire equipment and infrastructure needs in Walla Walla
• Yakima: Yakima council looks at options to support mental health, crisis response