Funding Based on Population
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocates funding to governmental entities based on population. Counties and cities with over 50,000 inhabitants receive funding directly from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Cities with less than 50,000 residents receive allocations through their state government. Local funding total allocations to Douglas County jurisdictions include:
Timing of Funds – Douglas County received 50% of the funds in May of 2021 and will receive the other 50% in May of 2022. The County must commit the full ARPA allocation by 2024 and spend by the end of 2026.
Allowable Use of Funds – The American Rescue Plan Act and accompanying guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury define categories of eligible use:
Additional information on allowable uses can be found here.
ARPA Funding Investment Principles – The Board of Douglas County Commissioners has established the following ARPA Funding Investment Principles:
Development of Spending Plan – The Board of Douglas County Commissioners has established the following seven core ARPA investment priorities.
Priorities within the spending plan were developed based in part on public input and consultation with stakeholder groups including economic development organizations, service providers, and nonprofit entities. Several Townhall meetings (live and virtual) were held to further solicit input on several of the priority investment areas. These included a June 22nd town hall on homelessness, a June 8th town hall on broadband, and a May 5th town hall on mental health.
Douglas County also initiated a series of seven due diligence and stakeholder engagement meetings on water projects and the RWR proposal in particular.
Ongoing Reporting and Disclosure – Douglas County is committed to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and compliance with federal reporting requirements.
