ARPA Community Response

About the Program

Category: Civic Education and Public Information (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

Maricopa County's response to the economic and social impact brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic has been significant. While many governments received federal rescue dollars to help residents, Maricopa County combined skillful administration with a comprehensive communications plan to maximize the benefit to residents in need. Collaborating across departments and disciplines, Maricopa County created a user-friendly website connecting residents to available services, provided real-time updates on spending to promote transparency, and created targeted marketing campaigns to ensure public awareness. The result: rescue funds entrusted to Maricopa County were distributed widely and efficiently. These dollars kept thousands of residents from being evicted from their homes, helped small businesses keep their doors open, and provided critical health care resources to individuals and families regardless of socioeconomic status, among other achievements.