American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

The American Rescue Plan Act received final approval in Congress on March 10 and was signed into law by President Biden on March 11. The $1.9 trillion relief package is wide-ranging, touching on policy areas from vaccination to broadband in its comprehensive approach to COVID-19 response and recovery. VACo appreciates the direct, flexible assistance to counties contained in the legislation; VACo had advocated for such assistance as an important element of Virginia’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and is grateful to Virginia’s Senators and members of Congress for their work in securing these important resources. VACo also extends its appreciation to its members for their advocacy efforts.

General Resources

American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 – Full Text of Bill from Congress.Gov

VACo Overview – American Rescue Plan Act Enacted; Legislation Expected to Provide Significant Resources to Virginia Counties

Resources on Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds

Treasury’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Final Rule

Overview of Final Rule

Local Plans for Use of Fiscal Recovery Funds
- Chesterfield County Recovery Plan – 2021 Report

User Guide for Treasury’s Portal for Recipient Reporting

Virginia ARPA spending plan – 2021 Special Session II
- Legislative text
- VACo overview

Recovery Plan Template — this document is required to be published annually by states, territories, and metropolitan cities and counties with more than 250,000 residents

Frequently Asked Questions (Updated and Revised June 17)

Compliance and Reporting Guidance (June 17)

Treasury’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds landing page – Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds | U.S. Department of the Treasury

Treasury’s Interim Final Rule (posted May 10)

Treasury’s Fact Sheet (posted May 10)

Treasury’s Quick Reference Guide (posted May 10)

County allocations

Treasury’s portal for requesting funding: Request Funding | U.S. Department of the Treasury

Additional information regarding funding for non-entitlement communities (generally cities and towns with populations less than 50,000 that are receiving funding distributions through the state): Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds for Non-Entitlement Units | U.S. Department of the Treasury

U.S. Treasury Pre-Award Requirements – Steps Counties Must Take to Receive Fiscal Recovery Fund Distributions | Posted April 15

NACo Overview – State and Local Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Funds

Questions posed by NACo to U.S Treasury Regarding State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds – NACo Letter to White House Treasury on Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund

NACo FAQs – Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund

Questions posed by Government Finance Officers Association, National Association of State Treasurers, National Association of State Budget Officers, and National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers – Click here for the questions

Resources on Other Sources of Funding in American Rescue Plan Act

Economic Development Resources
- Press Release: U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo Announces $3 Billion Investment in America’s Communities | U.S. Economic Development Administration (eda.gov)
Fact Sheet: EDA_ARPA_FactSheet.pdf
- Notice of Funding Opportunity – Build Back Better Regional Challenge: Build Back Better Regional Challenge | U.S. Economic Development Administration (eda.gov) (Phase 1 Deadline: October 1, 2021)

EDA invites eligible applicants to form regional coalitions to apply for funding to implement a collection of three to eight distinct but related projects in their region, in coordination with industry and community partners, and aligned around a holistic vision to build and scale a strategic industry cluster. Eligible applicants include a “State, county, city, or other political subdivision of a State, including a special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions”

- Notice of Funding Opportunity – Good Jobs Challenge: Good Jobs Challenge – American Rescue Plan | U.S. Economic Development Administration (eda.gov) (Deadline: January 26, 2022)

The Good Jobs Challenge is designed to support the needs of an applicant’s identified regional workforce system through a single integrated award. EDA will make awards to either the System Lead Entity of a regional workforce system or the Backbone Organization of a sectoral partnership as the lead applicant. Eligible applicants include a “State, county, city, or other political subdivision of a State, including a special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions.”

- Notice of Funding Opportunity – Economic Adjustment Assistance: Economic Adjustment Assistance – American Rescue Plan | U.S. Economic Development Administration (eda.gov) (Applications reviewed on a rolling basis; suggested submission date: March 15, 2022)

EDA’s American Rescue Plan Economic Adjustment Assistance program makes $500 million in Economic Adjustment Assistance grants available to American communities. The Economic Adjustment Assistance program is EDA’s most flexible program, and grants made under this program will help hundreds of communities across the nation plan, build, innovate, and put people back to work through construction or non-construction projects designed to meet local needs. A wide range of technical, planning, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and public works and infrastructure projects are eligible for funding under this program. As part of the $300 million Coal Communities Commitment, EDA will allocate at least $200 million of the Economic Adjustment Assistance funding to support coal communities. Eligible applicants include a “State, county, city, or other political subdivision of a State, including a special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions.”

- Notice of Funding Opportunity – Indigenous Communities Challenge: Indigenous Communities – American Rescue Plan | U.S. Economic Development Administration (eda.gov) (Applications reviewed on a rolling basis; suggested submission date: March 15, 2022)

This program is designed to support the needs of Tribal Governments and Indigenous communities. EDA will support these important partners to develop and execute economic development projects that they need to recover from the pandemic and build economies for the future.

- Notice of Funding Opportunity – Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Grants: Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation – American Rescue Plan | U.S. Economic Development Administration (eda.gov) (Competitive Grant applications reviewed on a rolling basis; suggested submission date: March 15, 2022)

Through the Travel, Tourism & Outdoor Recreation program, EDA is focused on accelerating the recovery of communities that rely on the travel, tourism and outdoor recreation sectors. $750 million of EDA’s American Rescue Plan funds are allocated to support the following efforts:

State Tourism Grants: $510 million in non-competitive awards to help states quickly invest in marketing, infrastructure, workforce and other projects to rejuvenate safe leisure, business and international travel.

Competitive Grants: $240 million to help communities that have been hardest hit by challenges facing the travel, tourism and outdoor recreation sectors to invest in infrastructure, workforce or other projects to support the recovery of the industry and economic resilience of the community in the future. Eligible applicants for competitive grants include a “State, county, city, or other political subdivision of a State, including a special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions.”

- Notice of Funding Opportunity: Statewide Planning, Research, and Networks: Statewide Planning, Research and Networks – American Rescue Plan | U.S. Economic Development Administration (eda.gov) (Research and Networks grant applications reviewed on a rolling basis; suggested submission date: October 31, 2021)

Through the Statewide Planning, Research & Networks program, EDA is supporting states in planning efforts by allocating $59 million for Statewide Planning Grants. In addition, the program will allocate $31 million for Research and Networks Grants to invest in research that assesses the effectiveness of EDA’s programs, and provides support for stakeholder communities around key EDA initiatives. Eligible applicants for Research and Networks Grants include a “State, county, city, or other political subdivision of a State, including a special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions.”

Broadband
- Commonwealth Connect Coalition June 9 webinar recording: Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund and Broadband Webinar 6-9-2021 – YouTube and slides Microsoft PowerPoint – Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Webinar.pptx (virginia.gov)

American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund
- Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Programs Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Programs
- The National Association of Counties (NACo) has provided a very helpful dashboard that is estimating how these funds will be allocated at the school division level. See the “ESSER III” tab for the American Rescue Plan K-12 dollars. (Select Virginia from drop down menu on top left)