The American Rescue Plan and the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (ARPA)
ARPA proposal submission deadline extended through April 11th at midnight
The deadline to submit proposals for ARPA funds through the Notice of Funding Availablity (NOFA) has been extended through April 11th at midnight. Proposers must submit proposals before midnight on April 11, 2022.
For more information please visit the Upstream Investments Website or email ARPA@sonoma-county.org with any questions.
Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)
To view the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for ARPA funds, please visit the Upstream Investment website.
On March 11, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319) into law. The $1.9 trillion package, based on President Biden's American Rescue Plan, is intended to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, including public health and economic impacts.
As part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the $362 billion Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund provides local fiscal aid to support urgent COVID-19 response efforts, cover increased expenditures, replenish lost revenue and mitigate economic harm from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The distribution of the $362 billion is allocated as follows:
- States Fiscal Recovery Fund ($219.8 billion)
- Local Fiscal Recovery Fund ($130.2 billion)
- Coronavirus Capital Projects ($10 billion)
- Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund ($2 billion)
Funds may cover costs from March 3, 2021 through Dec. 24, 2024.
Distributing ARPA Funds
During FY 2021-22 budget hearings, the Board of Supervisors approved a process for the distribution of ARPA funds. This plan calls for funding to be distributed in three primary areas:
1. Funding for COVID-19 pandemic response
2. Funding for strategic investments in County departmental services
3. Funding for direct community support
Board of Supervisors action on ARPA funding
June 18, 2021
July 27, 2021
Board received an update on the process for distributing funding directly to the community. See details
Sept. 14, 2021
Board reviewed preliminary departmental proposals for ARPA funding and determined that feedback from the community should be heard prior to selection of departmental proposals. See details
Nov. 2, 2021
Board received an update on ARPA funding plan implementation, received presentations and reports on COVID-19 economic impact, and authorized the Human Services Department director to execute a contract with the selected winner of the request for proposals for the Enterprise Resource Planning System. See details
Dec. 14, 2021
Board allocated funding to specific departmental proposals and community funding areas; approved community investment buckets based on community need; and approved timeline, evaluation, selection and award process for community investment awards, including community-based proposals and departmental proposals based on community need. See details and Press release
Stay Informed
On Jan. 20, the ARPA team is hosting two Meet and Greets to explain the ARPA funding application process and encourage collaboration when submitting an application in response to the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). The NOFA document will ask applicants to create programs that directly address board-identified funding priorities. Meet and Greets are open to all who are interested in applying for ARPA funds and will be held via Zoom on Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. – noon and 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Through an extensive community engagement process, we have heard the need to take a collaborative approach toward distributing ARPA funds to ensure that money and programs reach the intersections of community members most disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. To draft a NOFA that supports the collaboration of both large and small community-based organizations, the Human Services Department and the Office of Equity held a focus group for community-based organizations with prior experience receiving federal funds on Jan. 6. This conversation helped inform the ARPA team of the support that community organizations need to effectively collaborate and apply for funding to deliver programs that address inequities in our communities. To register for the morning event in English click here, for Spanish use this link. To register for the evening event in English click here, for Spanish use this link. If you need more details, please email the ARPA team at ARPA@sonoma-county.org.
Sonoma County's Share of the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund
Sonoma County is receiving a direct allocation of $96 million. The first half of these funds were received in 2021, and the second half will be received in 2022.
The County of Sonoma may use the funds to:
- Support public health expenditures related to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency
- Serve low income communities and individuals, families and businesses hardest-hit by the pandemic
- Provide premium pay for essential workers
- Replace public sector revenue lost due to the pandemic
- Invest in necessary improvements to water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure
Federal Guidance About the Use of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund
Resources
- American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
- American Rescue Plan
- U.S. Department of the Treasury COVID-19 Economic Assistance for State, Local and Tribal Governments
- Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
- National Association of Counties Overview for America's Counties: U.S. Treasury Interim Final Rule and Guidance for State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
- County of Sonoma COVID-19 Resources
Past Community Engagement
Community Meet and Greet and ARPA Networking Meetings
Watch the recording of the ARPA Meet and Greet held on January 20th. The purpose was to bring together businesses, agencies, and community-based organizations to seed collaboration. During these meetings attended by over 200 participants (hosted in the morning and evening), we received multiple requests to host further networking opportunities. We then created six more ARPA Networking Meetings from Feb. 8th-Feb. 24th to further support relationship building and collaboration.
ARPA Community Meet and Greet Presentation
Presentación de la Reunión de ARPA Comunitaria
ARPA Town Halls
Watch recordings of the five American Rescue Plan Act community town hall meetings, below. You can also see the presented materials in English and Spanish here.
- September 23, 6 - 8pm (District 3 - Supervisor Coursey): Watch the recording
- October 4, 5:30 - 7:30pm (District 1 - Supervisor Gorin): Watch the recording
- October 7, 5:30-7:30pm (District 5-Supervisor Hopkins): Not available
- October 13, 6 - 8pm (District 2 - Supervisor Rabbitt): Watch the recording Part 1 & Part 2
- October 20, 5:30-7:30pm (District 4 - Supervisor Gore): Watch the recording
ARPA Priority Funding Survey
Thank you for your input on the ARPA priority funding areas outlined by the federal government. The information was used to inform the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to set ARPA funding priorities.
County of Sonoma ARPA Community Work Group
The ARPA Community Work Group will support the equitable distribution of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds by elevating the experiences and needs of the low income communities and communities of color most disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Opportunity to Provide Feedback
Participants who attended ARPA Town Halls were asked to provide feedback on a set of questions in breakout groups. These same questions were posted here to reach an even broader audience. Input from these questions was also used to inform the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to set ARPA funding priorities.
Community Outreach Results
Through a combined process of seeking survey input, holding town halls, convening listening sessions with promotor groups, and feedback from the Equity Work Group, three local priorities for funding emerged:
- Disparities in public health outcomes
- Negative economic impacts on households and individuals
- Need to expand and fortify broadband access
The community also identified a need for rapid cash assistance to those most affected by COVID-19, especially people who were not eligible to receive the full amount of the federal stimulus payments