SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. – Spokane County is projected to receive approximately $101 million in economic relief funds as part of the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021.
ARP was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President on March 11, 2021. This nearly $2 trillion coronavirus rescue package is designed to facilitate the United States’ recovery from the devastating economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although the ARP funds are similar to the CARES Act funds passed in 2020, in that their purpose is to assist communities in the effort towards economic recovery, there are some key differences between the two streams of funding. The types of eligible projects and reporting requirements are among the most important differences. As projects and programs are considered, it will be extremely important for all local governments and recipients of ARP funding to understand the requirements of this new funding. For more information about ARP and the eligible uses, please visit www.spokanecounty.org/ARP
The Spokane County Board of Commissioners is working to formulate a strategy for distribution of these funds. As part of that effort, the Board has initiated an online survey for individuals and businesses to submit ideas and recommendations on how to prioritize the eligible uses these funds.
The Board understands and shares the concerns of many about the negative impact COVID-19 has had on our community. These funds will be aimed at providing direct aide for pandemic relief, addressing economic fallout, and building a foundation for a strong and equitable recovery.
Chair of the Spokane County Board of Commissioners, Josh Kerns, stated, “This is a one-time opportunity for our county. We need to get this right. We must strengthen our community with these dollars and the best way to do that is through getting our economy back on track. The Spokane County Board of Commissioners want input from every corner of the County.”
The survey is asking for community feedback in several areas to properly prioritize funding. Please take the survey so your input can be included in the plan for the long-term economic recovery and resiliency of our community. The survey can be accessed on the Spokane County home page by visiting the ARP homepage at: www.spokanecounty.org/arp or by directly going to www.spokanecounty.org/communitysurvey