American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, also known as ARPA or the COVID-19 Stimulus Package is a federal law passed by the 117th United States Congress and signed by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021 as a key piece of his "Investing in America" policy platform, primarily aimed at boosting the national economy in the wake of the COVID pandemic.

The primary purpose of the law was to authorize $1.9 trillion in federal stimulus payments to individual taxpayers, parents, underinsured persons and unemployed workers, to state and local governments, and to schools and small businesses, as well as funding COVID vaccine distribution. It aimed to continue and expand elements of the CARES Act of 2020 and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which also included economic stimulus. It also provided incentives to states to expand their Medicaid programs.

Additional federal investments were made by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, which was signed on November 15 of that year, and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, signed on August 16 of that year.

Impacts on the Birmingham district

City of Birmingham

Birmingham received $141 million through the American Rescue Plan Act. Significant allocations included:

• $17 million for bonuses for city employees, Birmingham Public Library staff, and JCCEO youth services staff ($5,000 for full-time employees and $2,500 for part-time employees)
• $14 million to close the deficit from the 2022 World Games
• $10 million to support development of 53 affordable housing units at Shadow Brook in North Pratt.
• Birmingham Xpress and microtransit expansion
• Consulting services for Birmingham City Council Districts redistricting
• Grant writing and strategy services, and equity, impact and community engagement expenses
• $6.5 million for retention bonuses for Birmingham Police Department, Birmingham Public Works Department, and Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service staff
• $3.7 million for demolition of blighted properties in support of development of The Star at Uptown
• $2 million to support redevelopment of the Hardwick Building
• $1.3 million in fees to Ernst & Young to ensure compliance with ARPA requirements
• $1.1 million in COVID-related loans to small businesses, and to support Citizens Trust Bank's management of a Better Business Loan Program.
• $540,000 in support of the Housing Reinvestment Corporation of America's development of new affordable housing on vacant lots
• $460,000 for Housing Investment Partnership Program in Woodlawn
• $330,000 for "Enterprise Resource Planning" software
• $100,000 for the A. G. Gaston Boys and Girls Club for program support
• $50,000 to Birmingham Landmarks for capital improvements
• $35,000 to ZOOM Motorsports for workforce development related to the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama
• $25,000 for maintenance and repairs to lighting under the I-20/59 downtown viaduct
• $24,030 to Literacy Council of Central Alabama for program support

Jefferson County

Jefferson County distributed $127,920,085 in ARPA funds under its recovery plan. Major allocations included:

• 2022 World Games, $6.5 million
• BJCC capital improvements, $6 million
• ambulances and other equipment for local fire districts, $4.5 million
• Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, $4 million
• Jefferson County Affordable Housing Rehabilitation Program, $3 million
• National Civil Rights Monument and 4th Avenue Business District Assistance Program, $3 million
• E-911 infrastructure improvements, $2.92 million
• substance use services support, $2.28 million
• mental health services support, $2.07 million
• Coronavirus food insecurity grant program, $1.46 million
• Nonprofit revenue loss program, $779,000
• community anti-violence programs, $600,000
• BJCC USFL preparedness, $500,000
• radios for 911, $203,000
• EMS comprehensive study, $127,400
• PPE for Jefferson Youth Detention Center, $8,800

State of Alabama

In June 2024 the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs' Alabama Digital Expansion Division awarded a $53.5 million grant from ARPA funds to the Alabama Fiber Network, which includes the Central Alabama Electric Cooperative operating in Autauga, Elmore, Coosa and Chilton Counties. The funding is for "middle mile" projects to expand broadband access in rural areas.

References

• Woodfin, Randall (March 6, 2024) "Biden's ‘Investing in America’ agenda making lasting impact." AL.com opinion
• Harris, Shelby (June 19, 2024) "World games, buses, venues: How will Birmingham spend remaining pandemic recovery funds?" AL.com

External links

• Jefferson County Recovery Plan at arpa.jccal.org
• Birmingham pandemic recovery funding visualization by Shelby Harris