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:

  1. 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.
  2. Use the forthcoming Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Guidebook to identify federal funding streams to target. We’ve identified many of these opportunities below.
  3. Ensure all transit, railway, road, highway, and bridge projects are a part of your Transportation Improvement Plan.
  4. Begin mapping sites for electric vehicle and alternative fuel charging stations, if this makes sense for you.
  5. Inventory and map the lead pipes in your city. This is perhaps less of an issue in Alaska.
  6. 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.
  7. 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

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.

Learn More

Keep up with all things ARPA

Who’s saying what about when, how much, and how funds will be distributed

Read News Articles Here

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.

General Resources

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

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

Economic Development

Housing

Water/Sewer

Transportation

Childcare

Education