Counties and the American Rescue Plan Act Recovery Fund: Clean Water, Sewer & Stormwater Infrastructure
Upcoming Events
Related News
The Recovery Fund and Investments in Water and Sewer Infrastructure
The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (Recovery Fund), part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which NACo helped to develop and strongly advocated to pass, allocates $65.1 billion. These funds provide direct, flexible aid for every county, parish and borough in America. Counties are on the front lines in delivering this aid to residents and are a driving force connecting communities and strengthening the economy. As directed by the ARPA and the U.S. Department of Treasury, counties can invest Recovery Funds into a broad range of programs, services and projects under four categories: public sector revenue; public health and economic response; premium pay for essential workers and water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.
Since the enactment of the ARPA, America’s counties have been working hard to develop Recovery Fund implementation plans that will help spur an equitable economic recovery across the nation. As sound financial stewards, counties are investing these critical Recovery Funds to ensure the health and well-being of our nation’s residents and the economic vitality of our local communities. Many counties are in the preliminary stages of development and implementation of Recovery Fund Plans. This report highlights county investments to expand clean water practices, strengthen stormwater mitigation tactics and improve local sewer systems.
Counties Expend Billions in Infrastructure Funds
Annually, counties invest $134 billion in building, maintaining and operating physical infrastructure and public works. Counties across the nation are utilizing Recovery Funds to strengthen water and sewer infrastructure by expanding the impact of these investments.
Counties Plan to Invest Recovery Funds to:
Counties are Expanding Water & Sewer Infrastructure Through Strategic Investments
How will counties invest the funds? NACo analysis of 200 county ARPA Recovery Fund plans reveals county-designed investments in the community across key areas of need. These local priorities are found within county plans at the rate displayed in the chart, e.g., 57 percent of county plans include investments in transportation and infrastructure, including water and sewer. The darker bars are the investment categories adjacent to water and sewer that support the continuation and expansion of services in counties. The examples in this report further illustrate the allocations to support infrastructure at the local level.
Counties and the American Rescue Plan Act Recovery Fund: Rural Communities
This report highlights how counties have begun investing Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to support rural communities and residents across the country.
Resource
County Investments of American Rescue Plan Recovery Funds
NACo launches FY 2027 Appropriations Tracker as Congress kicks off the next budget cycle
NACo launches FY 2027 Appropriations Tracker as Congress kicks off the next budget cycle.
Research Reveals National Road Funding Crisis as County Leaders Urge Congressional Action
Research released today by the National Association of Counties (NACo) underscores a national road funding crisis and the large role counties play in the U.S. transportation network, as infrastructure investment needs outpace available revenue due to aging infrastructure, rising construction costs and weakened purchasing power. The American Society of Civil Engineers projects a $684 billion national funding shortfall for roads over the next decade, of which counties own a significant share.
House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee advances bipartisan surface transportation reauthorization bill
On May 17, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) introduced the Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development for America’s 250th Act (BUILD America 250 Act), a bipartisan bill that would reauthorize surface transportation programs through the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for five years. After continuous advocacy from NACo, county leaders and coalition partners, the BUILD America 250 Act contains a number of key county priorities.
NACo endorses bill to support, finance transit-oriented development projects
On April 20, NACo endorsed the Build Housing, Unlock Benefits and Services (Build HUBS) Act (H.R. 7062/S. 3636).
House clears budget resolution, advancing Reconciliation 2.0 to fund DHS and CBP
On April 21, U.S. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) unveiled a budget resolution to advance a party-line reconciliation package focused on immigration enforcement and funding for agencies within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The resolution is the first step in a two-part process aimed at producing final legislation by June 1.
NACo advocates for inclusion of county priorities in FY 2027
NACo sends letter advocating for inclusion of county priorities in FY 2027 appropriations.