ARPA, the American Rescue Plan Act, became law last March. Its 628 pages carry provisions that impact many aspects of the American economy, including funding for state and local governmental units to a total of $350 billion.
Funding for states is approximately $195 billion, with the 50 states and the District of Columbia sharing equally in $25.5 billion. The remaining $169.5 billion will be distributed via a formula based on unemployment.
ARPA also will provide an additional $130 billion for local governments, to be divided equally between cities and counties. The funds can be used for a variety of purposes, including investments in sewer, water and broadband infrastructure.
They can also be used to offset COVID-related drops in revenues and to cover the costs of pandemic assistance to small businesses, households and hard-hit industries. Expenditures to assist economic recovery efforts and to provide premium pay for essential workers are also permitted.
Tonight’s listening session, at Haymarket Plaza in front of the Pablo Center at the Confluence, will enable county residents and business owners to share their thoughts about how to use the funds coming to the city and county. The session will follow the existing public comment period format used in regular Eau Claire City Council meetings, which can be found here.
Only those people attending tonight’s session in person will be able to comment on the potential distribution of the funds. Others may access the session online through the WebEx meeting system by using this link: https://eauclairewi.webex.com/eauclairewi/onstage/g.php?MTID=ee141a6b1102c9e3d426ac7c725e21adc .
The session can also be accessed by phone at 1-408-418-9388, Access code: 2481 063 5736.
Those attending the listening session will be required to complete a health questionnaire and wear a mask. Additional community input opportunities will be announced after tonight’s session.