ARPA Eligibility Overview

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The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) signed into law on March 11, 2021, provides $350 billion in emergency funding for state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to help mitigate the long-term effects of the Pandemic and to remedy the disparity between rising costs and falling revenues.

Albany County received $59.3 million in two equal tranches, creating a historic opportunity to achieve fiscally responsible yet transformational objectives that will shape the County’s recovery and future.

Eligible Uses of ARPA Funds

The American Rescue Plan Act provides significant resources for the County to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency and the resulting economic impact through programs and services that fall within several categories of eligible uses:

Within these primary categories, governments have some level of flexibility to determine how best to use the stimulus funds to meet the specific needs of their communities and populations. ARPA also allows for broad flexibility in the use of funds for programs and services that target the hardest-hit communities and families or those provided within Qualified Census Tracts and other disproportionately impacted areas.

Spending Requirements

ARPA funds must be obligated no later than December 31, 2024, and fully expended by December 31, 2026.
Funds that are not fully spent by December 31, 2026 are required to be returned to the U.S. Treasury.