Counties and the American Rescue Plan Act Recovery Fund: Clean Water, Sewer & Stormwater Infrastructure
-
Reports & ToolkitsLearn about county investments to expand clean water practices, strengthen stormwater mitigation tactics and improve local sewer systems.Counties and the American Rescue Plan Act Recovery Fund: Clean Water, Sewer & Stormwater InfrastructureMay 24, 2022May 24, 2022, 1:45 pm
-
Document
Counties and the American Rescue Plan Act Recovery Fund: Clean Water, Sewer & Stormwater Infrastructure
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.
Learn about county investments to expand clean water practices, strengthen stormwater mitigation tactics and improve local sewer systems.2022-05-24Reports & Toolkits2023-04-11
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.

-
Reports & Toolkits
County Investments of American Rescue Plan Recovery Funds
Find analysis and trends of county investment priorities, share how your county is supporting your residents and explore our database of county ARP investment plans.
-
Webinar
NACo Information Series on Treasury’s ARPA Flexibility Guidance: Transportation Infrastructure Project
Sep. 20, 2023 , 1:00 pm – 2:00 pmOn August 10, the U.S. -
Blog
The County Countdown – September 13, 2023
Every other week, NACo’s County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership. Watch the video and explore NACo resources below on some of the top issues we are covering this week. -
Webinar
Earmarks: What Rural Counties Need to Know to Get Started
Sep. 12, 2023 , 1:00 pm – 2:00 pmCongress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending (often referred to as earmarks) in early 2021. Since then, hundreds of county governments have secured billions of dollars in funding during the last three funding cycles. -
Blog
The County Countdown – August 29, 2023
Every other week, NACo’s County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership. Watch the video and explore NACo resources below on some of the top issues we are covering this week. -
Webinar
National Membership Call: Overview of U.S. Treasury New Guidance for ARPA Flexibility
Aug. 15, 2023 , 3:00 pm – 4:00 pmOn August 10, the U.S. Department of Treasury released their Interim Final Rule (IFR) for the bipartisan State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act (i.e. Cornyn/Padilla Amendment) that allows counties to invest American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) dollars more flexibly towards new transportation and infrastructure projects, relief from natural disasters and eligible projects under the Community, Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. -
Reports & Toolkits
NACo Analysis: Overview of New Treasury Guidance for ARPA Flexibility Legislation
On August 10, the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) released an Interim Final Rule (IFR) for the bipartisan State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act
-
Reports & Toolkits
American Rescue Plan Resource Hub
In March of 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 authorized the $350 billion State and Local Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Fund (Recovery Fund), which provided $65.1 billion in direct, flexible aid to every county in America.Reports & Toolkitsdocument03092:00 pmReports & Toolkits<p>In March of 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 authorized the $350 billion State and Local Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Fund (Recovery Fund), which provided $65.1 billion in direct, flexible aid to
-
Basic page
ClearGov
ClearGov® is the leading provider of Budget Cycle Management software, focused on helping local governments streamline the annual budgeting process by improving the collection, creation, and communication of their budgets.pagepagepage<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="call-out transparent">
<tbody>
<tr> -
Basic page
Finance, Pensions & Intergovernmental Affairs Steering Committee
All matters pertaining to the financial resources of counties, fiscal management, federal assistance, municipal borrowing, county revenues, federal budget, federal tax reform, elections and Native American issues. Policy Platform & Resolutions 2023-2024 2023 NACo Legislative Prioritiespagepagepage<p>All matters pertaining to the financial resources of counties, fiscal management, federal assistance, municipal borrowing, county revenues, federal budget, federal tax reform, elections and Native American issues.</p>
-
Basic page
Transportation Policy Steering Committee
Responsible for all matters pertaining to federal transportation legislation, funding and regulation and its impacts on county government. This includes highway and bridge development, finance and safety, public transit development and finance, transportation planning, airport development and service, passenger and freight railroads, ports and waterways, freight movement, and research and development of new modes of transportation.pagepagepage<p>Responsible for all matters pertaining to federal transportation legislation, funding and regulation and its impacts on county government.
-
Reports & Toolkits
Implementing Infrastructure Investments at the County Level: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (P.L. 117-58)
As intergovernmental partners, counties play a key role in ensuring the successful interpretation and implementation of the BILReports & Toolkitsdocument100710:00 amReports & Toolkits<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="call-out transparent jump">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Related News
-
BlogThe County Countdown – August 29, 2023Aug. 29, 2023
-
BlogU.S. House and Senate introduce bipartisan FAA reauthorizationsAug. 8, 2023
-
BlogCounties directly eligible for over $3 billion in competitive USDOT funding for community and regional planningJul. 14, 2023
Related Resources
-
Reports & ToolkitsNACo Analysis: Overview of New Treasury Guidance for ARPA Flexibility LegislationAug. 11, 2023
-
ResourceLegislative Analysis for Counties: H.R. 3935, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act (House FAA reauthorization)Aug. 10, 2023
-
DocumentTechnical Assistance for Counties: USDOT Competitive Grant LifecycleJul. 5, 2023
Upcoming Events
-
25Sep2023
-
26Sep2023
-
27Sep2023Webinar
NACo Information Series on Treasury’s ARPA Flexibility Guidance: Relief from Natural Disasters
Sep. 27, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm