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American Rescue
Plan Act

American Rescue
Plan Act of 2021

 WHAT IT IS 

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) (H.R. 1319) into law. The $1.9 trillion package included the $65.1 billion Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, which provided direct funding to counties of all sizes and is intended to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, including the public health and economic impacts. Beyond the Recovery Fund, the ARPA provided other critical funding that can be used to support residents and communities across the country impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2022 $1,454, 725.00 in American Rescue Plan State and Fiscal Funds were awarded, throughout the County, supporting a total of 21 projects. This funding was appropriated to address critical and unprecedented support to children, families, and communities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic downturn, which have been exacerbated by historic racial injustices.

A CLOSER LOOK

AT D6 ARPA ALLOCATIONS

Every penny of American Rescue Plan money at my disposal was rightfully awarded to community organizations, businesses and programs that all make DeKalb better. Whether it was supporting mental health, education and employment resources for immigrants and refugees, to providing financial aid for those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, distributing vaccinations (that led to me dressing up as Batman as part of the schools initiative) or adding productive landscaping to curb stormwater flooding, I'm proud of the aid my office as been able to provide.

Last year, appropriated efforts included:

$25,000 to support Be Someone, Inc’s Summer Break Virtual Chess and Life-Skills Instruction program.

$100,000 to establish a Brannon Hills Fund to support current and future public health and public safety initiatives implemented by Public Safety, other DeKalb County departments, and service providers that can address the myriad Brannon Hills Condominium resident’s needs.

$50,000 for Ready Schools Program to launch literacy activities, music and movement, snacks, art and science, workshops co-planned with families, and an array of resources and supports, including referrals to rent assistance, food, mental health, employment, and other services requested by families who have been impacted by COVID-19.

GSU $100,000 to increase the capacity to meet the critical need for COVID-19 pandemic mental health services for the Clarkston/Refugee community. The alliance includes a partnership between DeKalb County, Georgia State University, and the International Rescue Committee.

$­­­­­­­­­­­100,000 to financially assist those who are limited by physical and/or mental disability and who are able to prove a need for assistance for housing, utilities, transportation, communication, and/or related expenses needed as a result of COVID-19.

$100,000 to address the continued needs for educational enrichments and behavioral health services that DeKalb County children and adolescents need when they are out of school on summer break. APEX is a DeKalb Community Service Board program under the provisions of child and adolescent services.

$250,000 to assist with funding Community Green Space Improvements at DeKalb County Libraries and green space locations within District 6 qualified census tracts, under the supervision of the DeKalb County Facilities Management Department.

$4,900 District to assist with funding for needed supplies for the DeKalb Naturalist Program at Mason Mill Park under the supervision of the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs Department.

$4,000 to support CPAs 2 and 3 of the DeKalb County Police Athletic League Plus (PAL) PAL Plus Unit Career Development Program. Through the structured PALP activities, our youth develop self-respect, respect for authority, and pride in their community.

$­­­­­­­­­­­9,745 to install a bioswale to the East Decatur Greenway in the area now occupied by a large trench that channels water directly into the creek.

$250.000 for Tekton Career Training’s Empower Clarkston: Green Jobs Training & Weatherization Retro-fits for Clarkston, Georgia Training underemployed Dekalb County Residents.

$­­­­­­­­­­­50.000 to support Prospera’s DeKalb County Latino Entrepreneurship Program for Latino entrepreneurs affected by the economic downturn caused by the pandemic.by providing training, information, and resources to start, sustain or grow their respective businesses in DeKalb County.

­­­­­­­­­­­100.000 for The Refuge Coffee Company employment training initiative to further assist with the increased costs associated with un/under-employed and resettlement transition in the Clarkston/Refugee community due to COVID-19.

$75,000 provided for programming and the community garden at STATIONSOCCER, an award-winning initiative that builds community through repurposing unused space in and around MARTA stations and providing safe spaces for multi-generation/multi-cultural people to gather, play, learn, and grow.

$200,000 for marketing and activities that encourages citizens who might not otherwise get the vaccine, to do so; and, to assist in the mitigation of the public health crisis created by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

NEXT ON DECK

2023 ARPA
APPROPRIATIONS

At the beginning of March, Commissioners received $957,142.85 as the final tranche of ARP funding. Commissioner Terry is strategically analyzing how best to maximize this remaining funding by reviewing past awards, 2022 proposals that were not able to be funded, and opportunities to collaborate with fellow Commissioners to seed existing programs focusing on long-term health equity, to assist with the overwhelming number of mental health needs, gun violence prevention, and applicable community greenspace, environmental sustainability, and small waterway infrastructure projects.

$100.000 will continue to assist the Refuge Coffee Company training initiative with their capacity to continue to expand mentoring and employment training to the most vulnerable who reside in Clarkston, District 6, DeKalb County, Georgia.

$100,000 to establish a Whitehall Forest Community Fund to support current and future public health and public safety initiatives implemented by Public Safety, other DeKalb County departments, and service providers that can address the myriad Whitehall Forest Condominium resident’s needs.

More Projects Coming Soon

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