One year ago, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was signed into law, launching a slew of assistance programs and injecting funds into the economy amid the COVID-19 public health emergency.
On a national level, the ARPA historically expanded child tax credits for nearly 40 million families with 65 million children, provided $1,400 in economic payments to over 171 million Americans, relieved Americans of financial struggle with Emergency Rental Assistance payments and more.
The ARPA allowed state and local governments to make transformative investments in their communities with the establishment of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) Program, which supplied $350 billion to state, local and Tribal governments in an effort to create a strong and equitable economic recovery. Since the passing of the ARPA, recovery funds have helped state and local governments add 374,000 jobs to the workforce in critical sectors, such as health care, government, public safety and more.
In Hidalgo County, the ARPA has helped the County administer COVID-19 tests and vaccinations to constituents, provided personal protective equipment (PPE) to County essential workers, contributed to South Texas College’s nursing initiative and more. With plans to make investments in County stormwater systems and clinics, the goal of the Hidalgo County ARPA Program is to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and address socioeconomic disparities among vulnerable populations, such as improving access to educational opportunities, recreational areas and health care services.
Join the conversation by subscribing to the Hidalgo County ARPA Program’s mailing list to stay updated on upcoming ARPA projects and COVID-19 mitigation efforts.