Montgomery County Releases First Recovery Plan Performance Report of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds to U.S. Department of Treasury

Montgomery County Releases First Recovery Plan Performance Report of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds to U.S. Department of Treasury

For Immediate Release: Thursday, September 2, 2021

County Executive Marc Elrich released the publication of Montgomery County’s First Recovery Plan Performance Report of American Rescue Plan Act (APRA) funds to the U.S. Department of Treasury covering the performance period from March 3, 2021, to July 31, 2021. During this period, Montgomery County allocated $133.2 million of the County’s $204.1 million share of ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF).

To review the required Recovery Plan and Performance Report for the Department of Treasury,  click here.

Projects described within the report contain only those funded through the American Rescue Plan Act. Recovery efforts from other funding streams outside of ARPA are not included in this report.

“If it was not for the CARES Act and ARPA, Montgomery County, along with every other local jurisdiction throughout this nation, would be in dire financial straits,” said County Executive Elrich. “I want to reiterate my appreciation and gratitude to President Biden, as well as our Congressional Delegation—Senator Cardin, Senator Van Hollen, Representative Raskin, Representative Sarbanes and Representative Trone—for their steadfast determination to invest in our recovery and resilience moving forward. The pandemic is far from over and the recovery from economic hardships, healthcare costs and disproportionate impacts on our poorer communities will linger even longer. As a County government, we are committed to responding with a sense of urgency, as well as complete transparency, and we are pleased to share this report with our community so it is clear where this money is being spent.”

“Montgomery County has upheld our commitment to providing quality services and resources to residents and businesses throughout the pandemic, thanks in part to the funds coming through the American Rescue Plan,” County Council President Tom Hucker said. “I’m grateful to our Federal delegation for working so closely with us this past year and a half, listening to us, and working hard to ensure Montgomery County has the support needed to come out of the pandemic stronger and more resilient. The CARES Act and ARPA funds put us in a good position for fiscal recovery and allows us to achieve it through an equity lens.”

The County’s approach to the allocation of the infusion of Federal aid has focused on three main goals: Response, Recovery, and Resilience, so that County residents and businesses can continue to pull through the crisis. This approach will allow the County to continue moving toward several of the County Executive’s key goals of promoting Equity and Advancing Social Justice, Economic Development Across the County and Efficient and Effective Public Services.

In Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21), the County will recognize $92 million in pandemic-related revenue losses. This amount was determined through the calculation methodology prescribed by the U.S. Treasury Department and will be used to pay for government services that County residents have come to rely upon.

“As we continue to navigate and recover from the effects of a global pandemic, Federal funding allocated from the American Rescue Plan Act tremendously helps local communities recover from this crisis,” said Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz. “I would like to especially thank President Biden and our Congressional representatives for their diligence and dedication to our residents. By providing comprehensive and equitable resources to families and small businesses in need, this will go a long way toward a full recovery.”

Additional highlights of expenditures from ARPA SLFRF funds include:

• $25 million for an expansion to the Working Families Income Supplement Program to provide financial assistance to low-income working families in the County.
• $6 million for the County’s minority health programs to continue the vital work of ensuring an equitable pandemic response among all of the County’s diverse communities.
• $5.2 million toward establishing the County’s Health and Human Services Department mobile health clinic to promote equitable health outcomes, enhance therapeutic recreation services and provide for mental health services for students and families, and continue the vital human services that are provided at the County’s service consolidation hubs including meals, diapers, telemedicine, and comprehensive wraparound services to residents most impacted by the pandemic.
• $1.5 million is being provided to expand the County’s rapid rehousing program and rental assistance program to ensure that the County’s most vulnerable residents can continue to have a roof over their heads.
• $1 million to support the County’s broadband infrastructure programs,
• $2.5 million for other administrative expenses including support for the County’s Conference and Visitor’s Bureau.

“ARPA funds have been an invaluable boon to our County during one of the toughest periods in recent memory,” said Councilmember Nancy Navarro. “As the author of the County’s groundbreaking Racial Equity and Social Justice Act of 2019, I am proud to have championed a focus on allocation of these resources using an equity lens. As a result, the funding has enabled us to not only continue to provide our existing excellent services to our residents, but to also deliver new services to families in need. Continuing to utilize these funds wisely will only help speed up our recovery from the economic impact of this pandemic. As chair of the Council’s Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee, I am committed to continuing to work with my colleagues and the County Executive to act as good stewards of taxpayer dollars.”

The County continues to assess and adapt to the ongoing impact of the evolving pandemic and provide the services necessary to ensure that residents continue to recover and thrive in a post-pandemic world. Over the coming months, County Executive Elrich and the County Council will work together to allocate the remaining $70.8 million in ARPA SLFRF funds so that County residents and businesses recover from the pandemic stronger and more resilient.

The next Recovery Plan Performance Report update will be due to the Treasury Department on July 31, 2022. It will cover the reporting period between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022.

ABOUT ARPA

The American Rescue Plan (2021) is providing fast and direct economic assistance for American workers, families, small businesses and industries. The American Rescue Plan continues many of the programs started by the CARES Act (2020) and Consolidated Appropriations Act (2021) by adding new phases, new allocations, and new guidance to address issues related to the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Rescue Plan also creates a variety of new programs to address continuing pandemic-related crises, and fund recovery efforts as the United States begins to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Rescue Plan was passed by Congress on March 10, 2021, and signed into law on March 11, 2021. For more information: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/about-the-american-rescue-plan.