can arpa funds be used for roads
For more information and helpful resources on the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, . 31 CFR 35 at 5, available at: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/SLFRF-Final-Rule.pdf. This money - known as "ARPA funds" - supports a huge number of initiatives and is available to many businesses, institutions and departments. ARPA provides funding for many programs and services nationwide. The interim rule does, however, reference example projects that address COVID-related impacts and needs. If the funds are used for . Recipients will compute the extent of their reduction in revenue by, comparing their actual revenue to an alternative representing what could have been expected to occur in the absence of the pandemic, . Some services that moved online during the pandemic are likely to remain for the foreseeable future. How Can Michigan Townships Use the American Rescue Plan Act Funds? To analyze whether a project is necessary, the Final Rule notes that: Treasury considers an investment in infrastructure to be necessary if it is (1) responsive to an identified need to achieve or maintain an adequate minimum level of service, which for some eligible project categories may include a reasonable projection of increased need, whether due to population growth or otherwise and (2) a cost-effective means for meeting that need, taking into account available alternatives DWSRF and CWSRF eligible projects continue to be presumed to be necessary investments under the final rule, with the exception of projects for the rehabilitation of dams and reservoirs. 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 . Care should be taken to avoid creating new programs or add-ons to existing programs that require an ongoing financial commitment. Consider the Treasurys guidelines. According to the U.S. Treasury, the objectives of this funding are to: The CARES actwas the first round of coronavirus economic relief payments, signed into law in March2020. As with previous COVID-19 relief packages, implementation will be an extensive process as new or updated guidance and FAQs are developed and released by theU.S. Treasury. Lorain's estimated ARP allocation is $31 million. Sign up to receive emails to hear our latest news and achievements in our monthly newsletter. ARPA Scanning and Partnering Efforts. The $15,000 needs to be used by the end of April, but funds can . GFOA American Rescue Plan Act Guiding Principles. A recipient funding street paving in response to a specific pandemic public health need or a specific negative economic impact should (1) describe the harm or need to be addressed; (2) explain why a capital expenditure is appropriate to address the harm or need; and (3) compare the proposed capital expenditure against alternative capital expenditures that could be made.[2] If the capital expenditure exceeds $1 million, written justification explaining how the capital expenditure meets these standards is required. Lisa is a respected urban designer known for combining timeless community design and innovation with focus on fast-tracking advanced planning techniques and emerging technologies. This will require new stakeholders who have the ear and the voice of neighborhoods often left out of infrastructure planning. 5. [6], Recipients seeking to identify the categories of projects that would be eligible to receive funding assistance should check the EPAs website for possible additional resources available in the event a project is not clearly eligible for CLFRF funds.[7]. :From COVID tracking dashboards to vaccine distribution management, tech can boost your public health managementcapabilities for the present and future. 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. 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. The interim rule notes that general infrastructure projects typically would not be included unless the project responds to a specific pandemic public health need or a specific negative economic impact. In summary, regarding revenue loss and provision of government services, the Final Rule may permit certain infrastructure projects such as road maintenance. The $1.9 trillion ARPA federal relief package, signed into law on March 11, includes $360 billion for State and Local Government Fiscal Recovery Funds. 31 CFR 35 at 266, available at: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/SLFRF-Final-Rule.pdf. This means that when ARPA funds are used under the "Revenue Loss" category, the Federal Procurement Guidelines are not applicable. Authorized representative name, title, and email, Contact person name, title, phone, and email, Funds transfer information, including recipients financial institution, address, phone, and routing number and account number, Completed award terms and conditions (to be signed by the authorized representative), Though there is no application deadline as of the publication of this article, funding requests for those who have completed applications are already being fulfilled. How Can My Department Justify ARPA Funds for Technology? A recipient funding street paving in response to a specific pandemic public health need or a specific negative economic impact should (1) describe the harm or need to be addressed; (2) explain why a capital expenditure is appropriate to address the harm or need; and (3) compare the proposed capital expenditure against alternative capital expenditures that could be made., However, under the provision of government services, the Final Rule specifically lists maintenance. State and local governments could transfer funds to private nonprofit groups, public benefit corporations involved in passenger or cargo transportation, and special-purpose units of state or local governments. Swagit hands-free video streaming takes production responsibilities off of your staff, while expanding the reach and accessibility of content. 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. However, she said Caldwell told her that the Roads Division budget can take care of that purchase without ARPA funds. Suite 380 We're passionate about creating stronger communities and better organizational efficiencies for city leaders. We urge the House, Senate, and governor to join many other states in using ARPA funds for repairs of roads and bridges, and take a bold step to finally reverse decades of underinvestment in some . 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.. Suite 200 , requiring a short amount of paperwork that explains your project and its relevant costs. Finance officers play a critical role in advising elected leaders on the prudent spending of moneys received under ARPA. Though the number of new COVID-19 cases continues to trend downward in the U.S., the CDC still reports. This blog post examines how to position Complete Streets and trails projects for ARPA funding. Our software integrations are built to seamlessly connect with your tech stack, allowing you to work more efficiently. If you have any questions, concerns, or issues while renewing your SAM registration, please contact the Federal Service Desk at 866-606-8220. The latest updates include expanded information regarding eligible expenses for addressing court case backlogs, assisting certain business startups, eviction prevention and housing stability services, including utility assistance, counseling, outreach, and legal aid services. Suite 200 It's no mystery Highway 42 has a lot of traffic, which is why TXDOT is widening the road. Section 9801 of the ARP Act increased the CCDF mandatory and matching appropriation to $3.55 billion. Following that notice, the City Council directed the City Administrator to prepare a plan for allocating the funds. 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).. Along with allocations of funds by government entity, the eight-page fact sheet clarifies uses of funding. 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 . For many jurisdictions, the funding provided under ARPA is substantial and could be transformational for states and local governments in their pandemic rescue and recovery efforts. For state, county, city, and tribal government, the ARPA established $130.2 billion in emergency funding. Clemons said he expects the commission to take up a road plan based on the additional funding well ahead of the upcoming spring paving . The digital divide and broadband were hot topics throughout the pandemic. Responses must be related and reasonably proportional to the extent and type of harm experienced. On May 21, 2021, the U.S. Department of Revenue issued an interim final rule (referred to as interim rule hereafter) establishing funding criteria. The township used the funds to pay public safety workers overtime. each week (as ofJune 4, 2021). Technology ishighlightedas an area for spending to address the negative economic impacts of the pandemic. Show that you understand your problem, how your proposed solution solves your problem, and that you can implement and execute on your solution quickly. , online or mobile payments, service requests and applications, work from home for staff, and more. Recipients may donate funds to a non-profit that serves to benefit the community as a whole (e.g., a municipality could give the funds to organizations like "Friends of the Library" or "Friends of the Park" and those organizations can use the money to improve the library or purchase new park equipment. . Projects may include, but are not limited to green roofs, bioretention basins, roadside plantings, porous pavement, and rainwater harvesting.[6], It should be noted that additional information may be provided when Treasury issues new Frequently Asked Questions ("FAQs") specific to the Final Rule. , Orange County, CA, is unlikely to end its online town halls. Please click here for GFOAs analysis of ARPA. The funding provided under ARPA provides a unique opportunity for state and local governments to make strategic investments in long-lived assets, rebuild reserves to enhance financial stability, and cover temporary operating shortfalls until economic conditions and operations normalize. Recipients can use this funding to invest in an array of projects related to drinking water infrastructure, as well as wastewater infrastructure, including managing or treating stormwater (which must have a water quality benefit) or subsurface drainage water. Yes, experts say you can use ARPAfunds to purchase technology. The economic relief package of$1.9 trillionbecamelaw on March 11, 2021. 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. Services to address individuals experiencing homelessness. 117-2, amending 42 U.S.C. It is possible there are many beneficiaries of ARPA funding within your community, such as schools, transportation agencies and local economic development authorities. The latest guidance clarifies that road repairs connected to eligible water and sewer infrastructure improvements can be included. 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. The first report must be completed by April 30th, 2022. Reg. We've compiled information about funding in the Act, how that applies to software investments, and examples of how your organization can get the ARPA funds needed to serve your community. That process is currently under development by the U.S. Treasury. Cities with populations below 50,000 will receive $19.53 billion. For more resources on ARPA for local government, we recommend the National League of Cities', The CARES Act and Technology: A Guide for Local Government, How Local Government Should Engage With Gen Z, By Mark Funkhouser, Constituent Relationship Management (CRM), Overview of the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. rates, also remember that the County can delay obligating funds until December 31, 2024 and not draw funds in advance (Source: Eide Bailly, 06/29/21). A fund management platform can automate reporting for ARPA allocations, including timesheets, spend tracking, and more. Of course, check with your governments financial or ARPA entity for any of their guidelines or recommendations first! / MTA / JULY 15, 2021 1 . Improvements to community outdoor spaces is an allowable expense when meeting certain criteria. Funding pension accounts, paying off outstanding debt, or making deposits to reserve accounts or rainy day funds. 31 CFR 35 at 260, available at: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/SLFRF-Final-Rule.pdf. The Treasury Department released an FAQ on the ARPA local fiscal recovery funds. The U.S. Department of the Treasury continues to release answers to new frequently asked questions regarding the expenditure of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds under the American Rescue Plan Act. Charlotte, NC 28277, 2001 Butterfield Rd 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.. There are specific ineligible uses of ARPA funds. Infrastructure within ARPA is defined largely as (1) broadband and (2) water projects that would also be eligible for funding under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) or the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) provides $200 million for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and billions more for library-eligible programs, including over $7 billion for broadband and devices. [8] U.S. Department of the Treasury, Statement Regarding Compliance with the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Interim Final Rule and Final Rule, available at: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/SLFRF-Compliance-Statement.pdf.
