Washtenaw Rescue Plan

Banner

On March 11, the President signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). This action created the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund to support local governments as they help their communities recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Through the passage of ARPA, Washtenaw County government will be allocated just over $71 million in two equal allotments (May 2021 and May 2022). Each local unit of government inside of Washtenaw County is also eligible to receive funding. You can find out how much your city, township, or village will be allocated here.  

ARPA 1.0 

COVER MEMO

In summer 2021, the County developed an initial list of potential initiatives to help guide the use of these funds as part of a larger spending plan that will take advantage of other funding sources. The intent of this one-time funding is for the County to spend it in ways to serve households in Washtenaw County to recover from the pandemic while creating a more equitable future.

After a two-month community engagement process, the Board introduced and unanimously passed a resolution that represented the first expenditure of American Rescue Plan Act funding in September of 2021.

ARPA 2.0

COVER MEMO

In November and December of 2021, the Board introduced a second ARPA package and held several listening sessions in low and very low opportunity areas on the eastern side of the County. In March 2022, the Board officially approved a resolution to invest in the Health Department, create a community priority fund, and launch a mobile support services initiative.


ARPA 3.0

COVER MEMO

At the June 1st Board of Commissioners Meeting, Administrator Gregory Dill offered a report on a proposed ARPA 3.0 package. You can view the presentation here, starting at the 3 hour, 10 minute mark.

At their July 6th meeting, the Board of Commissioners (BOC) will consider a resolution to approve an ARPA 3.0 proposal. The package totals $30,200,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, $270,000 in general fund resources and if approved, would leave just over $10M for future allocation. 

The following investments are designed to expand the BOC’s broad, balanced, ARPA- eligible, investments throughout the county, If approved, proposed initiatives are intended to compensate front-line staff for their on-going commitment to pandemic response, support the most vulnerable in our community, invest in infrastructure support for local municipalities, create pathways out of the poverty exasperated by the pandemic, ensure full-enterprise service delivery and reimburse the County for revenues lost during the pandemic.

Account for lost revenues - $36 million 

  • Cover county losses during the pandemic, to be reallocated to other ARPA projects and government services 

Provide premium pay to essential workers - up to $3 million ARPA + $270K General Fund 

  • Support for county workers throughout the organization, who worked in-person/on front-line during the pandemic. 

Support for Seniors - up to $4 million ARPA 

  • Establish an RFP to aid older residents, in ARPA approved categories, though senior serving organizations.  

Addressing Housing Access - up to $3.6 million ARPA 

  • Support for a new, sustainable, mixed-income housing development of in 48197.  

Invest in Stormwater/ Sewer Infrastructure Maintenance – up to $2 million Lost Revenues

  • Create matching fund program for local cities, townships, and villages 

Establish a Financial Equity Center - $4.9 million ARPA

  • Landing place for equity-driven, poverty alleviation strategies and generational wealth-building resources, including small business support, comprehensive, financial services to for low/ moderate income residents.  

Embargoed Health Department funding - $4 million ARPA        

  • Additional support (through) 2024 to continue creation and maintenance of an equitable-centered Health Department 

Expanding Government Service Delivery to Support Best Practices, Evidence Based Programming, and Innovative Ideas - $4M Lost Revenues    

Investment in County infrastructure to Support Government Service Delivery - $4M Lost Revenues 

  • Resources to address county buildings and improved service delivery. 

Provide staff support - $700,000- Lost Revenues           

  • For on-going, data driven ARPA program implementation, evaluation, and assessment. 

Funding Requirements

While some of the Washtenaw County Rescue Plan will use other pots of money to fund projects, the majority of projects will use ARPA Funds. These Funds provide eligible state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments with a substantial infusion of resources to meet pandemic response needs and rebuild a stronger, and more equitable economy as the country recovers. We may use funds to:

  • 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

These funds must be allocated by 12/31/2024 and fully implemented by 12/31/2026.

For more information on how funds can be used, click review the Interim Final Rule