About ARPA
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 established the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CSLFRF, aka ARPA) which provides $350 billion to state and local governments across the nation for the response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Of Vermont’s $1.25 billion share, over $200 million (about $300 per Vermonter) was allocated to municipalities. Legislative bodies have discretion over how to spend their local ARPA funds, and with the issuance of the Final Rule there is increased spending flexibility and simplified reporting.
VLCT encourages its members to take their time, be thoughtful, and plan strategically. If input is needed to gather information, then consider creating an ARPA Advisory Committee to help shoulder the work. As local spending priorities appear, stretch your ARPA dollars by leveraging other State and Federal funding opportunities.
The first round of ARPA reporting is due by April 30th of this year, and every year thereafter through 2027. VLCT has compiled compliance and reporting information, along with a set of FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) to help guide you.
Please bookmark this page so you can quickly and easily refer to it often. This page has the most current information, resources and tools to help municipalities succeed in spending, managing and reporting out on these funds. Municipalities may send questions about ARPA to ARPA@vlct.org.
VLCT extends our thanks to the Vermont Legislature and Governor Phil Scott, their support allowed VLCT to establish the ARPA Assistance and Coordination Program to support Vermont’s towns, cities and villages that chose to accept ARPA funding.
FAQs
Where are the ARPA FAQs?
The FAQs now have their own page.
Do you have information about ARPA Compliance and Reporting?
Yes, there is now an ARPA Compliance and Reporting webpage.
Is there any other funding out there to help us maximaze our allocation?
Yes! We encourage you to utilize other funding sources to make the most of your ARPA award. You can visit our Grants and Funding page to see what opportunities VLCT has compiled. The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) also has a robust database of available funding opportunities.
RESOURCES AND INFORMATION
VLCT
- Local ARPA General Information for Towns, Cities and Villages - June 2022 (editable PowerPoint format; PDF can be found HERE)
State of Vermont
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Vermont Department of Finance and Management - COVID 19 Finance Related Guidance
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Local Fiscal Recovery Payments. The State of Vermont will distribute ARPA Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funding (local and county dollars) using these allocations.
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Certification Dashboard - Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Allocations - Find your NEU RECIPIENT NUMBER (shown as "Town ID") here!
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State of Vermont Recovery Plan, State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds 2021 Report, as required by and submitted to U.S. Treasury.
ARPA Across the Country
- ICMA ARPA Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Spending Priorities Survey ICMA surveyed local government chief administrative officers (CAOs) in September 2021 about their priorities for utilizing the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)’s Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (FRF). Nearly 600 town, city, and county managers responded. Responses include local governments with populations ranging from less than 2,500 to over one million; two thirds came from communities of 25,000 or fewer residents, which fall under the U.S. Treasury definition of “Non-entitlement Units” (NEUs, i.e., local governments typically serving a population of under 50,000). Direct FRF recipients include counties and metropolitan citie
- National League of Cities COVID-19 Local Action Tracker (webpage) NLC and Bloomberg Philanthropies have teamed up to collect and share actions taken by local leaders in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, including uses for ARPA funding.
Community Engagement Resources
Resources for Your Community Members
- Housing Resources for Vermonters in Need (February 2022)
- ACCD Grant Opportunities Inventory Dec 2021 - Grant opportunities for your local businesses, and municipalities, both COVID specific as well as existing programs.