American Rescue Plan Act Funding
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Overview
On May 10, 2021 the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the launch of the Coronavirus State and Local 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 City of Appleton will receive approximately $14.8 million to:
- Support urgent COVID-19 response efforts to continue to decrease spread of the virus and bring the pandemic under control.
- Replace lost public sector revenue 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 impact of the pandemic on certain populations.
Uses of funding as defined by the U.S. Treasury include:
- Public Health - Support public health expenditures by funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral healthcare, and certain public health and safety staff.
- Economy - Address negative economic impacts caused by public health emergency, including: economic harm to workers, households, small businesses, impacted industries, and the public sector.
- Hardest Hit - Serve the hardest-hit communities and families by addressing health disparities and the social determinants of health, investing in housing and neighborhoods, addressing educational disparities and promoting healthy childhood environments.
- Public Sector - Replace lost public sector revenue, using this funding to provide government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue experienced due to the pandemic.
- Essential Workers - Provide premium pay for essential workers, offering additional support to those who have borne and will bear the greatest health risk because of their service in critical infrastructure sectors.
- Infrastructure - Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, making necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, support vital wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and to expand access to broadband internet.
Ineligible Uses
- States and territories may not use this funding to directly or indirectly offset a reduction in net tax revenue due to a change in law from March 3, 2021 through the last day of the fiscal year in which the funds provided have been spent.
- No recipient may use this funding to make a deposit to a pension fund.
Timeline
Summer of 2021: Assess community needs and opportunities by holding public listening sessions and directly soliciting feedback.
September 2021: Developed strategic program to address immediate needs and priority areas.
October 2021: Finance Committee and Common Council review the ARPA spending plan for amendment and approval.
November 2021: Common Council approves and adopts spending plan for ARPA dollars.
Early 2022: Suggestions for programs and allocation amounts identified as priority areas will be taken into consideration through the use of Balancing Act tool, via email to ARPA@appleton.org, and through public listening sessions.
Late 2022-2023: Incorporation of community feedback into ARPA spending plan, identification of internal and external projects, execution of subrecipient awards.
2024: Continued implementation of ARPA projects, finalize all obligation details.
2025-2026: Continue and finalize implementation of ARPA projects, project outcome reporting, project wrap-up, fiscal reporting.
NOTE: ARPA Funds must be obligated by December 31, 2024 and spent by December 31, 2026.
Available Grants
In November 2021 the Common Council approved phase one of ARPA Special Revenue funds, which include $250,000 in grants to local non-profit organizations. The City of Appleton is now accepting grant applications for ARPA funds, which are available to nonprofits that provide cultural opportunities for City of Appleton residents, as well as tourists, enrich our communities and stimulate economic activity; and organizations that provide behavioral health services.
"The first round of Appleton ARPA grants are focused on providing desperately needed support for organizations whose services are in especially high demand right now, and organizations that have largely fallen through the cracks of other ARPA programs,” said Mayor Jake Woodford. “This is the first direct allocation of ARPA funds from the City of Appleton, but it will not be the last.”
Applications are due by noon on Thursday, February 3. Grants will be awarded in March, with a minimum of $10,000 and maximum of $50,000. The total award amount may not exceed 25 percent of an organization’s total annual expenses.
Application and Information for community event organizers
Application and Information for behavioral health providers
Grant funds awarded through this program must be expended no later than November, 30, 2022. Any unspent funds must be returned to the City no later than December 31, 2022.