American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

Guidance for the Use of the ARPA Funds

The United States Treasury established guidelines for State and local governments to use the ARPA funds to cover costs associated with certain purposes, including:

• Responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency or its negative economic impacts, including providing assistance to households, small businesses and nonprofits, or aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel and hospitality;
• Responding to workers performing essential work during the COVID-19 public health emergency by providing premium pay to eligible workers;
• Strengthening support for vital public services by replacing lost public sector revenue; and
• Making necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.

While funding can be used for items listed above, as stewards of the Story County funding, the Board of Supervisors identified the highest and best strategic uses of the funding to serve the citizens of the County including the following three areas.
 

Supporting the public health response  – meet and address emergent public health needs, including through measures to counter the spread of COVID-19, through the provision of care for those impacted by the virus, and through programs or services that address disparities in public health that have been exacerbated by the pandemic.

Addressing negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency –  respond to the public health emergency or its negative economic impacts, including assistance to households, small businesses, and nonprofits, or aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality.

Investing in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure – allows for a broad range of necessary investments in projects that improve access to clean drinking water, improve wastewater and stormwater infrastructure systems, and to make necessary investments in broadband infrastructure.

State and local governments must take action to obligate the funds by December 31, 2024, and all funds must be spent no later than December 31, 2026.

Applying for ARPA Funding from Story County

The Story County Board of Supervisors is inviting communities, organizations, and external partners to submit proposals for funding consideration. Together, we must pursue the great American tradition of building back better after major crises. Let us use this opportunity born out of a challenging time to strengthen our local partnerships and make smart investments in a brighter, more resilient future for our communities.

Proposals that will be considered for ARPA funds must address a public need that has been created or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and meet the usage and timing requirements of the ARPA legislation. Projects should be designed with a strategic public purpose that creates meaningful and long-lasting impact and must be focused on Story County and be administered or located in Story County.

Application Deadline: Applications for this opportunity must be submitted no later than 4:30 PM on October 15, 2021. Additional opportunities may be announced at a later date.

Questions regarding the application may be submitted to ARPA@storycountyiowa.gov.

Applications must be completed in full to be considered for funding. Applications may be submitted by downloading the fillable PDF form at the bottom of this page and submitting as follows:

Via email to ARPA@storycountyiowa.gov.

Mail to:
Sandra King
Story County Board of Supervisors
Story County Administration Building
900 6th Street
Nevada, Iowa 50201  

This page will be updated as more information becomes available. Please continue to check back here for the latest information.