ARPA Compliance & Reporting
Background
The American Rescue Plan Act was first passed on March 11, 2021. This unprecedented distribution of funds was intended to address the personal and economic impacts of the pandemic.
On May 11, 2023, President Biden issued notice of the end of the “Public Health Emergency and National Emergency declarations for COVID-19” which significantly impacts some Federal funding programs.
The primary funding for tribal and local governments under ARPA came in the form of the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program. Recipients have until December 31, 2024 to fully obligate these funds, and until December 31, 2026 to fully spend them.
SLFRF Compliance
Local government funding through ARPA comes in a variety of forms, and there are some important things to know:
- Recipient Compliance and Reporting Guidance
- All expenditures, compliance and reporting from Act itself and Treasury’s implementation
- Local governments and tribal guidance
- State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds FAQ’s
All local governments are prime recipients, meaning the State has no responsibilities other than to distribute funds.
Local Government Resources
- Sample ARPA Conflict Resolution Policy necessary to comply with Terms and Conditions
- GFOA Revenue Calculator for Local Governments For ARPA eligible use C: Decrease in revenue
- Federal Assurance Table
- NLC COVID 19 Pandemic Response & Relief / ARPA Local Relief Frequently Asked Questions
- ARPA Framework for how to approach a planning process
Tribal Resources
SLFRF Reporting
The Alaska Municipal League (AML) is offering to support local and tribal governments in their reporting and compliance needs. Please contact AML staff at (907) 586-1325 if you have questions about completing your report.
The rules for compliance and reporting are nearly identical between tribal and local governments, although there are some expenditures that are allowable for tribes that don’t apply to states and local governments – these are outlined in Treasury’s SLFRF guidance.
Annual reporting deadlines for CLSFRF (ARPA funds) periods are as follows:
- 2nd Annual Report Due April 30, 2023
- April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023
- 3rd Annual Report Due April 30, 2024
- April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024
- 4th Annual Report Due April 30, 2025
- April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025
- 5th Annual Report Due April 30, 2026
- April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026
- 6th Annual Report Due April 30, 2027
- April 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026
Other ARPA Resources
Education
Education funding flowed through the State of Alaska’s Department of Education, which provided resources to school districts via https://education.alaska.gov/safeschools/infectiousdisease#covidrelief.
Small Businesses and Nonprofits
ARPA provided unprecedented funding opportunities through grants and disbursements for non-profit organizations and small businesses. Many entities throughout Alaska have benefited from ARPA funds.
Although many of the funds have been distributed, there are still opportunities to access funds. Entities who received funds have until 2026 to spend funds. The National Conference of State Legislatures, a nonpartisan umbrella organization who has been tracking distribution data, provides information about where funds have been distributed in Alaska.
For more resources and support concerning nonprofit organizations, please contact The Foraker Group. Please include a few sentences about your interest in federal grants.
For more resources and support concerning small businesses, the Alaska Small Business Development Center can provide consultation on existing opportunities.