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The American Rescue Plan 

Signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) allocates $1.9 trillion to COVID-19 relief and economic recovery. Cities and towns in North Carolina will directly receive more than $1.3 billion. These funds will be provided over two distributions, the first taking place shortly following the official passage of the ARP.

 

Read the entire bill here. and read official Treasury guidance here. Summaries of the bill are provided below.

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Summary

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In addition to direct funding, the ARP provides specific funding for:

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  • Agriculture and nutrition programs, including extending SNAP and the Pandemic EBT program to keep families fed through the pandemic;

  • Schools and institutions of higher education to safely reopen schools, address learning loss, and support students and staff, including support for broadband for students;

  • Child care to help sustain child care providers and expand child care assistance to 857,000 children;

  • COVID-19 vaccinations, testing, treatment, and prevention, especially for hard to reach communities and areas;

  • Mental health and substance-use disorder services;

  • Emergency rental assistance, homeowner assistance, and other housing programs to help families pay rent, mortgages, and utilities;

  • Transit agencies to prevent layoffs of transit workers and prevent severe cuts to transit services that essential workers and the general public rely on.

  • Multiemployer pension plans;

  • Small business assistance, including specific programs for restaurants and live venues;

  • Support for health care workers, transportation workers, federal employees, veterans, and other targeted populations;

  • International and humanitarian responses and;

  • Tribal government services.

 

The bill also includes provisions that:

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  • Extend enhanced unemployment benefits through September, providing an additional $300 per week on top of all state unemployment benefits;

  • Provide direct economic impact payments of $1,400 per eligible individual and $2,800 for couples making up to $150,000 per year. Eligible families will also receive an additional $1,400 payment per child and adult dependent, amounting to $5,600 for an average family of four;

  • Expand the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit

  • Provide premium assistance for certain health insurance coverage; and

  • Require coverage, without cost-sharing, of COVID-19 vaccines and treatment under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

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More information on topics central to municipal government can be found in our Resources section, here. 

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