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 directly to counties, boroughs and parishes across the nation. 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.

This report, prepared in conjunction with Brookings Metro as part of NACo’s Equitable Economic Recovery Project, examines strategies for investing Recovery Funds with an eye towards equity. Ensuring counties across the country can facilitate an equitable economic recovery constitutes a shared interest for NACo and Brookings Metro. As such, this report draws on the existing resources and expertise of Brookings scholars, who are referenced throughout this text. NACo would like to thank and acknowledge their contributions to this report and the Equitable Economic Recovery Project.