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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: December 14, 2021 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 6-a <br /> SUBJECT: Fiscal Year 2021-22 American Rescue Plan Act Allocations Round 2 <br /> DEPARTMENT: Finance and Administrative Services <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Attachment 1. ARPA Allocations Travis Myren, (919) 245-2308 <br /> Attachment 2. Project Summaries Gary Donaldson, (919) 245-2453 <br /> Rebecca Crawford, (919) 245-2152 <br /> PURPOSE: To approve the next allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funding to projects, also <br /> known as Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CSLRF). <br /> BACKGROUND: The Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provides direct allocations to <br /> local governments. Orange County is designated to receive approximately $28.8 million. The first <br /> draw down of approximately $14.4 million was approved by the Board of Commissioners on a <br /> budget amendment on June 1, 2021. The second draw down will occur before the end of the <br /> current fiscal year. ARPA funds must be obligated by December 31, 2024 and must be fully <br /> expended by December 31, 2026. <br /> The ARPA funds are intended to broadly address the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic <br /> on individuals, government agencies, organizations, and small businesses. The Treasury <br /> Department has issued interim guidance on the use of ARPA funds for local governments. This <br /> guidance establishes five broad categories for potential investments: <br /> 1. Support public health expenditures, by funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical <br /> expenses, behavioral healthcare, and certain public health and safety staff; <br /> 2. Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, including <br /> economic harms to workers, households, small businesses, impacted industries, and the <br /> public sector; <br /> 3. Replace lost public sector revenue, using this funding to provide government services to <br /> the extent of the reduction in revenue experienced due to the pandemic; <br /> 4. Provide premium pay for essential workers, offering additional support to those who have <br /> borne and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical infrastructure <br /> sectors; and, <br /> 5. Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, making necessary investments to <br /> improve access to clean drinking water, support vital wastewater and stormwater <br /> infrastructure, and to expand access to broadband internet. <br /> County departments were once again asked to submit proposals consistent with the interim <br /> guidance and the goals established by the Board of Commissioners in prior funding allocations. <br /> County departments submitted requests totaling over $6.4 million. $3,345,793 is recommended <br />