The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was signed into law on March 11, 2021, by President Biden. ARPA includes the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), which provide financial aid to local governments. These funds are being distributed through the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
The U.S. Treasury has adopted the Final Rule for the SLFRF with an effective date of April 1, 2022. Allowable uses of the funds include:
Ulster County has received $34 million and is working to allocate these funds where they will bring about the most impact and long-lasting change, aligning these eligible uses with the Housing Action Plan, the Ulster 2040 Strategy, the Green New Deal, and the ongoing work of the Behavioral Health Task Force.
Local governments will receive the funds in two tranches, or allocations. The first was distributed in the spring of 2021 and the second is expected to arrive in May 2022. Funding is required to be obligated by December 31, 2024, and expended by December 31, 2026.