Wilson County Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund
This is your local source for information about the Wilson County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CLFRF). The County will update this webpage as updates become available, so please stay tuned into this page.
What is the American Rescue Plan Act?
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 or ARPA 2021 is the second stimulus packaged approved by the US Congress in early 2021. The ARPA provides numerous funding programs to assist the American Public including local, state, and Tribal governments to not only respond to the pandemic and its negative impacts but also to help Americans with much needed assistance, such as housing assistance, providing monies to re-hire and / or create new jobs to assist governments and businesses with the appropriate help to get the economy moving again. These funds are also made available to governments for recovery of revenue loss and to build resilient, eligible and appropriate infrastructure.
What is the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund?
The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds provide a substantial influx of resources to help turn the tide on the pandemic, address its economic fallout, and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable recovery.
Did Wilson County receive direct funding? If so, how much, and when?
As a county in the United States, Wilson County was eligible to apply for and receive direct funding from the US Treasury. Wilson County’s direct allocation consists of two distributions 12 months apart for a total distribution of $9,900,000.00. Wilson County received its first distribution on May 24, 2021 and expects to receive the second distribution on or about May 24, 2022.
What are the County's priorities and eligible uses for the money?
County's first priority
On July 26, 2021, the Wilson County Commissioners Court, through the work of its court-appointed CLFRF Committee approved the first priority which is to strengthen and enhance the emergency management function of the county to facilitate preparedness and readiness amidst the ongoing pandemic and any potential future national emergencies.
Eligible uses
The US Treasury has identified eligible use areas that the CLFRF monies may be spent. They are:
- Infrastructure investments (water, sewer, and broadband)
- Premium pay (for essential workers during the onset and peak of pandemic)
- Public health & economic impacts investments
- Revenue loss (revenue loss is defined as the overall general revenue loss of the county for conducting county business or not being able to conduct county business due to the pandemic)
The types of projects in a couple of these areas can be numerous; however, Wilson County has to consider if the project(s) is/are directly related to the pandemic response and any potential future national emergency. The US Treasury recommends local governments ask the following questions when considering funding certain projects.
- Describe how the proposed project responds to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
- Are there other populations or geographic areas that were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic that should be explicitly included?
- Is the proposed project within the eligible use categories?
For more information about eligible uses, frequently asked questions, and the rules, please refer to the dedicated US Treasury's ARPA webpage at US Treasury ARPA / CSLFRF.
When does Wilson County’s CLFRF monies have to be spent?
Wilson County has to obligate all ARPA/CLFRF monies by December 31, 2024, and all expenditures have to be completed by December 31, 2026.
How can you provide input into the planning process for the Wilson County ARPA/CLFRF monies?
- Stay tuned into this web page for updates
- Provide input / feedback to your elected officials and / or committee representatives
- Send an email with your input to grants@wilsoncountytx.gov (This email will be monitored on a regular basis and input will be provided to the Wilson County ARPA/CLFRF Committee for their consideration and possible recommendation to Commissioners Court)
Who are the Wilson County ARPA/CLFRF Committee members and how do I get in contact with them?