With the new presidential administration comes a new wave of stimulus associated with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which started in 2020. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), an approved congressional bill, provides much-needed relief for states and localities, including IT-addressable areas. They signed the act into law on March 11, 2021. It provides a total $1.9 trillion of federal funds. The package builds upon many of the measures from the previous Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSAA).

The legislation includes $350 billion of direct relief to states and local governments, consisting of 195.3B to the states and Washington DC, $130.2B to local governments, $20B to tribal governments, and $4.5B to territories. Other provisions of the bill contain $394.3B of funds for schools, capital projects, housing, small businesses, transportation and infrastructure, energy and water, restaurants and bars, an Emergency Connectivity Fund, and public health. See details on pre-award requirements here. Sample funding streams provided to states include:

• $47.8B to support COVID-19 testing and contact tracing activities
• $7.5B to support vaccine distribution and communication
• $2B to support unemployment modernization

This site is designed to inform state and local government (SLG) professionals about this recently signed act, guide you through it’s complex landscape, and share stories from your peers who have previously implemented solutions where funding is most concentrated.