The American Rescue Plan Act, signed into law on March 11, 2021, includes State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) – the source of Akron’s $145 million allocation. The Treasury Department, the federal agency authorized to disburse and oversee ARPA funds, provided Akron with the first half of the local relief funds in the spring of 2021. The City will receive the second half of these funds by mid-2022. By law, the City must commit all of the funds by December 31, 2024. For an introduction to how local relief funds (SLFRF) may be used, visit this Treasury fact sheet. For more detailed guidelines about allowable uses, visit the final version of the federal regulations.
Meet and address emergent public health needs.
Address economic harm resulting from or exacerbated by the public health emergency.
Provide premium pay to eligible workers performing essential work during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Provide government services to the extent of reduction in revenue experienced due to COVID-19.
Meet the critical need for investments and improvements to existing infrastructure in water, sewer, broadband, and Local Fiscal Relief Fund.
The City of Akron is committed to making Akron Rescue Plan investments transparent and open to the public. The Federal government has provided guidance and requirements for spending the funds, outlined below
Funding directly addresses a negative impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
1) Negative Impact: Identify the harmful effect of COVID-19 that the activity or expense will address.
• Nature of harm: Assess the causal or compounding connection to COVID-19.
• Nature of harm: Assess the disproportionate impact on distressed sectors or populations.
2) Respond to Impact: Determine how to demonstrate the activity or expense produces the expected outcome(s) to address and respond to the harm caused by COVID-19.
• Costs incurred on or after March 3, 2021, unless otherwise stated in the guidance
• Must be obligated by December 31, 2024
• Expended by December 31, 2026
• Recipients are directed to report how the funds prioritize equity.
SLFRF (State and Local Fiscal Relief Funds) awards are generally subject to the requirements outlined in Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200). This guidance outlines a recipient’s compliance responsibilities related to procurement, internal controls, allowable costs, subrecipient monitoring, and more.
