American Rescue Plan Act Funds

Signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocates $1.9 trillion to COVID-19 relief and economic recovery. Cities in Oregon will directly receive more than $680 million through the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. The City of Oakridge will receive a total of $748,106.44 in two separate equal installments, the first of which has been received. The next will be provided in 2022. Funds must be obligated by December 31, 2024, but cities will have until December 31, 2026 to complete projects.

What can ARPA funds be used for?

The U.S. Treasury is the definitive source for information on allowed uses of the funds and supports spending in several broad categories as outlined by Treasury.

• Support public health expenditures, by, for example, funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral healthcare, and certain public health and safety staff.

• Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, including economic harms to workers, households, small businesses, impacted industries, and the 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
• Provide premium pay for essential workers, offering additional support to those who have and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical infrastructure sectors
• 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

A town hall meeting is being planned for January of 2022 to obtain public input on the use of these funds.