American Rescue Plan Resources
Getting Ready to Apply for and Receive Federal Infrastructure Funds
Building a better America is a shared endeavor no one can do alone, and investing federal infrastructure dollars will require significant coordination between cities, states, Tribal governments, community stakeholders, and other key partners.
Earlier this month, the White House Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator sent a letter to Governors recommending a series of preparatory actions, including appointing infrastructure coordinators to manage the flow of funds to their states. Alaska has taken this step, and has named Miles Baker to this position.
Cities and boroughs can also begin to coordinate across their departments and within metropolitan planning organizations (MPO) to:
- Prioritize your community’s capital needs and develop a project pipeline – taking time to think about the projects previously considered impossible due to lack of funding or regional coordination. This is a once-in-a-generation funding opportunity that will require bold, inclusive thinking.
- Use the forthcoming Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Guidebook to identify federal funding streams to target. We’ve identified many of these opportunities below.
- Ensure all transit, railway, road, highway, and bridge projects are a part of your Transportation Improvement Plan.
- Begin mapping sites for electric vehicle and alternative fuel charging stations, if this makes sense for you.
- Inventory and map the lead pipes in your city. This is perhaps less of an issue in Alaska.
- Work with your state’s broadband agency to ensure your city or region’s needs are appropriately mapped and inventoried. The State has yet to stand this up, but will shortly.
- Establish relationships with the regional offices for key federal agencies, who can help direct you to resources and provide technical assistance. AML can help to facilitate this.
Local governments should look to leverage ARPA resources to help prepare for the transformative investments included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law including training the workers needed to build high-quality infrastructure; hiring back the public sector workers needed to help manage potential federal investments; and getting a jump start on the water, sewer, and broadband projects that could complement investments from the infrastructure law.
We recognize local capacity may be strained due to the pandemic, historic underinvestment, or just the challenges of day-to-day governance. A local government’s lack of capacity to apply for federal funds can create significant inequities – and for many communities, this will be their first time applying for funds from a suite of federal agencies. While many funding streams in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law specifically set aside funds for disadvantaged communities, the White House Infrastructure Implementation Team will be engaging states, Tribal governments, territories, federal agencies, philanthropies, and others to leverage all available resources to quickly deliver the necessary technical assistance and capacity to underserved communities. AML will be advocating for equitable access for Alaska’s local governments.
Helpful Articles
Agency Contact Information
- Environmental Protection Agency: State&Local@epa.gov
- Department of Transportation: intergov@dot.gov
- Department of Interior: OIEA@ios.doi.gov
- Department of Commerce: CommerceIGA@doc.gov
- Department of Energy: DL-RegionalSpecialists@hq.doe.gov
- Department of Agriculture: EIA@usda.gov
- Department of Homeland Security: dhs.iga@hq.dhs.gov
Below are links and documents that can help municipal and tribal governments, nonprofits, and others learn about programs resulting from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
There are similar clearinghouses of information that exist at the national level, which we’ve provided, and that may be helpful for different sectors. There’s program specific information from federal and state partners, and there’s guidance for the practical management for ARP & BIL funds.
Lost Revenue
Unlike the CARES Act funding that local governments received in 2020, ARPA funding can be used to replace lost revenue. There’s a methodology for determining what this amount should be and we’ve created a worksheet you can use for this calculation.
Keep up with all things ARPA
Who’s saying what about when, how much, and how funds will be distributed
Treasury Guidance
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
This Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will rebuild America’s roads, bridges and rails, expand access to clean drinking water, ensure every American has access to high-speed internet, tackle the climate crisis, advance environmental justice, and invest in communities that have too often been left behind. The legislation will help ease inflationary pressures and strengthen supply chains by making long overdue improvements for our nation’s ports, airports, rail, and roads. It will drive the creation of good-paying union jobs and grow the economy sustainably and equitably so that everyone gets ahead for decades to come. Combined with the President’s Build Back Framework, it will add on average 1.5 million jobs per year for the next 10 years.
- A GUIDEBOOK TO THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW FOR STATE, LOCAL, TRIBAL, AND TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENTS, AND OTHER PARTNERS
- Rural Cost Share Analysis of BIL Programs
- No more Lead Pipes
- High-Speed Internet Access
- Better Roads and Bridges
- Investments in Public Transit
- Upgrade Airports and Ports
- Investment in Passenger Rail
- Network of Electric Vehicle Chargers
- Upgrade Power Infrastructure
- Resilient Infrastructure
- Investment in Environmental Remediation
General Resources
- AML Overview for Alaska (PPT)
- AML ARPA Guidelines Video Presentation
- AML ARPA Guidelines (PPT)
- NC League of Municipalities
- National League of Cities (NLC) – hub useful for Alaska cities
- National Association of Counties – hub useful for Alaska boroughs and tribes
- Government Finance Officers Association – hub useful for finance and administrators
- National Council of State Legislatures
- National Council of Nonprofits
- Hud.gov/coronavirus
- For questions about the Treasury Submission Portal (ID.me) or for technical support, e-mail covidreliefitsupport@treasury.gov.
- Free Tool to Help Cities Take Full Advantage of Federal Aid – searchable database of Q&A’s about the rules and regulations of COVID-19 relief funds
Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
The SLFRF program provides governments across the country with the resources needed to:
- Fight the pandemic and support families and businesses struggling with its public health and economic impacts
- Maintain vital public services, even amid declines in revenue resulting from the crisis
- Build a strong, resilient, and equitable recovery by making investments that support long-term growth and opportunity
Treasury has released the Final Rule for the program, which will take effect on April 1, 2022. Recipients and stakeholders are also encouraged to consult the Overview of the Final Rule, which provides a summary of Final Rule provisions for informational purposes, and to visit the Final Rule section below for more details.
Reporting
- Update! The first reporting deadline for NEUs will be April 30, 2022 (instead of Oct 31, 2021).
- Update! – States, Territories, and Cities/Counties must submit a Project and Expenditure Report by January 31, 2022 (instead of October 31, 2021).
- Treasury’s Portal for Recipient Reporting Guide
- Treasury has posted a series of recorded webinars to assist recipients to understand and comply with relevant reporting requirements and assist recipients in accessing Treasury’s Portal:
If you are unable to log in to Treasury’s State, Local, and Tribal Support portal after establishing your accounts or need technical or other assistance, please send us an email at covidreliefitsupport@treasury.gov for assistance.
Broadband Infrastructure
- NTIA Establishes Two Broadband-Focused Offices – Office of Connectivity and Growth (OICG) and Office of Minority Broadband Initiatives
- Federal Funding – BroadbandUSA Federal funding database for digital inclusion and broadband adoption funding information
- Federal Digital Inclusion Resources – Information regarding digital inclusion and broadband adoption research, toolkits, and guides from NTIA and other Federal entities.
Economic Development
Housing
- Homeowner Assistance Fund Guidance – U.S. Department of Treasury April 14, 2021
-
Help Desk on Shared Equity Homeownership – Guidance to local governments on shared equity homeownership models that will serve their communities for generations to come.
- Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) – new waiver and alternative requirements – HUD, April 14, 2021
Transportation
Childcare
- Thread COVID-19 Stabilization Grant application is open to eligible child care programs. The application and grant information is available at threadalaska.org/covidrelief/
- Request for Proposal: Special Projects Manager Responses Due: June 11, 2021 Closed
- Childcare – The Child Care And Development Fund in FY21 Reconciliation Proposal
- Childcare – COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions
- Memorandum – Childcare and Development Fund in FY2021 Reconciliation Proposals
Education
- COVID relief funds for education – Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED)
- SchoolSafety.gov Grants Finder Tool