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. . In-depth insights from industry leaders on engaging and managing citizen communication. Care should be taken to avoid creating new programs or add-ons to existing programs that require an ongoing financial commitment. Heres a breakdown of CARES act funding, important resources for local governments, and examples of how cities and counties are using CARES to serve citizens with software and technology. Fiscal Recovery Funds, established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, to provide $350 billion in emergency funding for eligible state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments. The ARPA permits the use of its funds for select infrastructure projects: water, sewer, and broadband. Huntsville, AL 35801, 8910 Purdue Road In summary, local government can use ARPA funds to: According to the Treasury, recipients of ARPA funds have broad flexibility to decide how best to use this funding to meet the needs of their communities.. "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. Use of ARPA funds to cover operating deficits caused by COVID-19 should be considered temporary and additional budget restraint may be necessary to achieve/maintain structural balance in future budgets. Libraries can position themselves now to seek portions of this funding through multiple channels. Reg. SAM.gov Renewal: SAM.gov registration is required for American Rescue Plan funds as well as other federal funding (including disaster aid). from the intersections with the North Guilford and Elliottsville roads as well as a portion of the North Guilford Road to see how traffic can be slowed down and walkability can be improved. The $1.9 trillion federal COVID-19 relief package, enacted on March 11, 2021, included $350 billion of funding for state and local governments to "recover and rebuild from the pandemic." In May, the United States Treasury ruled that ARPA funds could be used on infrastructure, including roads. 349 municipalities in Massachusetts are currently members of the MMA. The ARPA Local Fiscal Recovery Program is a State pathway to infuse Federal funds into Maine towns and cities to support a variety of their economic recovery priorities, such as investing in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure or addressing the public health impacts of COVID-19, including replacing lost public sector revenue, providing . For counties, the $65 billion will be allocated based on the countys population. The Final Rule governing the use of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, issued today by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, significantly increases flexibility for municipalities, particularly in the way they calculate local tax revenue loss attributable to the pandemic.. Software can also helpmeet the Treasurysquarterly reporting requirements. ARPA funds are non-recurring so their use should be applied primarily to non-recurring expenditures. Heres what happened at the 2021 FES | ACEC-FL Annual Conference in Palm Beach, FL. 31 CFR 35 at 260, available at: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/SLFRF-Final-Rule.pdf. As a place to start, a basic set of questions for a technology project plan is below. change the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, provide direct relief to Americans,and build a bridge to equitable economic recovery. You can also access these questions within this. Its already laid out--just fill in the blanks with your project information! As local government agencies contemplate how to best use this funding, its important to bring any organizational needs to the forefront for consideration. To make necessary Improvement in infrastructure The funds can be used for improvements to provide clear drinking water, sewer upgrades, and expansion of broadband. The latest guidance clarifies that road repairs connected to eligible water and sewer infrastructure improvements can be included. Funding is one time in two phases. In Greater Cleveland, $1.1 billion will be coming our way, with another $331 million flowing to Greater Akron, $167 . Heres a breakdown of what local government needs to know about the ARPA, and what ARPA funds can be used for. ARPA Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds are being provided by the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) to help local governments recover from the Coronavirus pandemic. 30, 2021); Environmental Protection Agency, Clean Water State Revolving Fund, https://www.epa.gov/cwsrf (last visited Apr. Did your local government have a technology project postponed or cancelled because of pandemic-related budgetary concerns? On May 21, 2021, the U.S. Department of Revenue issued an interim final rule (referred to as interim rule hereafter) establishing funding criteria. SIMA is your enterprise resource planning solution to manage budgets, accounting, and human resources. If you have a question you would like answered, please contact Jacob Ewing 19 emergency, the new rule states that the funds can only be used to cover costs beginning March 3, 2021. The Treasury did not release funding amounts for Tribal governments, as they will receive allocation information after submitting their funding applications. Analysis of this expected trend begins with the last full fiscal year prior to the public health emergency and projects forward at either (a) the recipients averageannual revenue growth over the three full fiscal years prior to the public health emergency or (b) 4.1%, the national average state and local revenue growth rate from 2015-18 (the latest available data).. It includes benefits directly to individuals, such as recovery rebates . Communities around the country are developing strategies on how to win and invest American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. The move will . WGI is a silver partner in the Complete Streets Coalition (a project within Smart Growth America), a group of researchers, advocates, and practitioners advancing best practices for designing multi-modal streets. Suite 200 ARPA provided approximately $350 billion of new funding to tribal governments, states, territories, and local governments, $14 billion of which was estimated to be received by Pennsylvania and its municipalities. . A fund management platform can automate reporting for ARPA allocations, including timesheets, spend tracking, and more. He said local leaders would have liked to use the latest relief money to upgrade the township's roads and parks, but such general infrastructure projects aren't allowed under the law. Throughout these challenging times,Coronavirus highlightedurgent gaps in local governments ability to work and serve digitally. She has been a new mobility and smart city consultant, researcher on smart mobility, and urban planning start-up founder. If that project has benefit to the public, it may be eligible to come back into play with ARPA funding. Adler said he agrees that the Township Hall needs to be renovated to meet the current needs. 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. Treasury also released details on how these funds can be used to respond to acute pandemic response needs, fill revenue The Treasury has established a methodology to calculate the reduction in local revenue during the pandemic, and allows recipients to recalculate revenue loss at several points throughout the program, supporting municipalities that have experienced a lagging impact of the crisis on revenue. This blog post examines how to position Complete Streets and trails projects for ARPA funding. 31 CFR 35 at 14, available at: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/SLFRF-Final-Rule.pdf. The money can used for water, sewer, and broadband improvements, to offset lost revenue from the Coronavirus pandemic, and more. GFOA American Rescue Plan Act Guiding Principles. There are specific ineligible uses of ARPA funds. In the final rule, Treasury is maintaining the approach under the interim final rule that 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. Some references are explicit, while others require connecting the dots between Complete Streets benefits and COVID recovery. Since then, the Treasury has published expanded guidance for eligible expenses through an FAQ document. The state funding portion is approximately $195 billion with $25.5 billion distributed equally among the 50 states and the District of Columbia and the remaining amount distributed according to a formula based on unemployment. Technology, from, constituent relationship management platforms. Hybrid approaches to government services, accessible both in person and online, allow constituents to access services on their channel of choice. In the area of infrastructure, the ARPA focused on water, sewer and broadband projects. . Further, funds can be used for road repairs and upgrades that occur in connection with an eligible water or sewer project. 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. Initial federal ARPA funding to the states and their political subdivisions was estimated to begin as early as May. West Palm Beach, FL 33411, 1232 Winter Garden Vineland Road [7] Environmental Protection Agency, Drinking Water State Revolving fund, https://www.epa.gov/dwsrf (last visited Apr. This is a helpful starting point for putting together a proposal for a technology project, but be sure to clarify expectations and processes with the organization that handles ARPA funds in your area. Simplify managing agendas, meetings, and committees with a single, end-to-end solution to optimize and digitize your legislative management process. The ARPA funds will arrive in two installments. Finally, a local government to use ARP funds for eligible pandemic-specific expenses. [1] Treas. Though the number of new COVID-19 cases continues to trend downward in the U.S., the CDC still reports. Anticipated Project Benefits:Demonstrate who benefits from these activitiesand the benefits expected. The Final Rule states "recipients may use [CSLFRF] funds for road repairs and upgrades that interact directly with an eligible stormwater infrastructure project."[5] Paving could also be eligible under water and sewer infrastructure as a subsurface drainage measure. Response to the public health emergency or its negative economic consequences Learn how Rock Solid solutions have helped local governments across North America improve citizen engagement. On May 10, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released details on how local government can use ARPA funding. Mark Funkhouser, former Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, shares his thoughts on the What Citizens Want research by contrasting "vending-machine engagement" vs. "barn-raising engagement" in today's local government. 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. https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/SLFRF-Final-Rule.pdf, https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1319/text#HAECAA3A95C4E4FFAB6AA46CE5F9CB2B5. Downers Grove, IL 60515, 8144 Walnut Hill Lane Local governments have until December 31, 2024 to allocate their ARPA funds. The American Rescue Plan Act specifically calls for its funds to be used to support the public health and economic impacts of these communities. Davis, who acts as a liaison to the Roads Division, said the township is also in need of a larger snow plow. Dallas, TX 75231, 1600 Broadway [3], 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. And . Numerous DOT funding opportunities provide flexibility in cost sharing requirements for rural, Tribal, and disadvantaged communities. Local government processes could range from: Your technology project is more likely to be funded if you present a coherentplan. ARPA funds will be distributedto local governmentsin two equal payments, with the first half of funding awarded beginning in May 2021 and the second half awarded approximately 12 months later. 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. Community Violence Intervention programs, including capacity building efforts at CVI programs, like funding and training additional intervention workers Yes, while you cannot reprogram between the designated pots of funding, there is great flexibility in the use of the funding distributed under ATG and Law Enforcement due to the terms Tribal Government Services and Other Related Expenses. Whats the Difference Between CARES and ARPA? $45.5 billion of the $65 billion will be allocated to metropolitan cities utilizing a modified CDBG formula, and the remaining amount for jurisdictions that are non-entitlement CDBG, will be allocated according to population. Throughout these challenging times,Coronavirus highlightedurgent gaps in local governments ability to work and serve digitally. 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.[1] The U.S. Department of the Treasurys (Treasury) Final Rule, effective April 1, 2022, identifies the maintenance of infrastructure (such as roads) as a government service that may be funded by CLFRF under certain circumstances. While you must ensure the tech meets the guidelinesas summarized above, theTreasury wrote thespending criteria broadly to allow local government to respond to the pandemic inways that best address their unique situation. The period of performance continues for an additional two years, through December 31, 2026. The Final Rule states recipients may use [CSLFRF] funds for road repairs and upgrades that interact directly with an eligible stormwater infrastructure project.[5] Paving could also be eligible under water and sewer infrastructure as a subsurface drainage measure. Fleming Island, FL 32003, 11410 NW 20th Street The growth adjustment is the greater of either a 5.2% standard growth rate, or the recipient's average annual revenue growth in the last full three fiscal years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.. Actual revenue is the total revenue collected over the 12 months immediately preceding the calculation date. For more information and helpful resources on the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, . Suite 300 :From COVID tracking dashboards to vaccine distribution management, tech can boost your public health managementcapabilities for the present and future. The American Rescue Plan Act, commonly referred to as ARPA, is a $1.9 trillion stimulus passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Joe Biden in 2021. Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership. Cary, NC 27518, 5710 W. Hausman Rd And, according to Bodacious Bar-B-Q owner Billy Ray Suggs, they . Hiring law enforcement officials, even above pre-pandemic levels, or paying overtime where the funds are directly focused on advancing community policing strategies in those communities experiencing an increase in gun violence associated with the pandemic Any purchases made for otherwise qualified items before March 3, 2021, are not eligible for reimbursement. 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. In addition to the $10 million through ARPA, the city's emergency housing program will receive a $4.5 million grant from the federal government on Thursday which city officials expect will be its last. TheU.S. Department of the Treasury(Treasury) Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CSLFRF) FinalRule. And once a shortfall in revenue is identified, recipients will have broad latitude to use this funding to support government services, up to this amount of lost revenue.A method for computing reduction of revenue is provided: Recipients will compute the extent of their reduction in revenue bycomparing their actual revenue to an alternative representing what could have been expected to occur in the absence of the pandemic. Even with plenty of funding, planning municipal projects can take a significant amount of time, which is why it's so important to start the early steps of the planning process as soon as possible. Any budget shortfalls that led to the reduction of staff or projects can be covered. This funding increase will be applied to the GY 2021 annual . . Revenue replacement The interim final rule states that though funds must be obligated by December 31, 2024, they can be used through the end of the reporting period on December 31, 2026. That process is currently under development by the U.S. Treasury. For two decades, researchers have amassed a robust body of research demonstrating the benefits of Complete Streets and trails. On January 6, the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) released the Final Rule and an Overview of the Final Rule document for the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (Recovery Fund), a portion of the $362 billion Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, established under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) signed into law . State and local governments cannot use the funds towards pensions or to offset revenue resulting from a tax cut enacted since March 3, 2021. [7] In addition, Treasury encourages municipalities to consider the guidance issued in the Statement Regarding Compliance with the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Interim Final Rule and Final Rule.[8]. For cities, $65 billion is divided between jurisdictions that are Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement jurisdictions and those that are not. 6. Response to the public health emergency or its negative economic consequences In the recent FAQ the Treasury Department announced, for the first time, that funds used under the "Revenue Loss" category are not subject to 2 C.F.R. Rebuilding Public Sector Capacity to Support Economic Recovery, Recipients may also use this funding to build their internal capacity to successfully implement economic relief programs, with investments in, - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, Lets say, for example,that your city uses ARPA funds to set up a loan or grant program for local businesses. Were refreshing our brand to reflect the energy, inspiration, and excitement that we feel when we come to work every day. 1201 Wilson Boulevard If technology can support outreach, applications, placement, or other relevant services, it is likely valid for ARPA funding. Because of the flexibility of these Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, its likely that different governments will take varied approaches for identifying areas of need and selecting the right projects for fund usage. Counties that are CDBG recipients will receive the larger of the population or CDBG-based formula. If you have any questions, concerns, or issues while renewing your SAM registration, please contact the Federal Service Desk at 866-606-8220. Of Vermont's $1.25 billion share, over $200 million (about $300 per Vermonter) was allocated to Access to internet became an important conversation in the equitable access of education, healthcare, and government services.

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