ARPA Funding and Guidance

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 is a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill passed by the United States Congress and signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021. It is meant to speed up the United States' recovery from the economic and health effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding package builds upon the CARES Act from March 2020 and its extension in December 2020.

Timing of Funds

Funds are to be distributed and need to be obligated through the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026. Jefferson County government will receive 50% of the funds in 2021 and the other half in 2022. The timing was laid out by the federal government.

Funds Coming to Jeffco

The portion of the ARPA funding package that is being provided to local governments in Jefferson County is $187.2 million.

• $113 million to Jefferson County as a local government
• $47.2 million will go directly from the federal government to cities and towns in Jeffco that have a population greater than 50,000 and are Community Development Block Grant-eligible, (which include amounts based on federal formula):
  • Arvada – $11.1 million
  • Lakewood – $21.6 million
  • Westminster – $14.5 million
• $27 million will pass through the state to other cities and towns in Jeffco, including (amounts based on federal formula):
  • Bow Mar – $236,000
  • Edgewater – $1.3 million
  • Golden – $5.2 million
  • Lakeside – $2,000
  • Littleton – $12 million
  • Morrison – $106,000
  • Mountain View – $134,000 
  • Wheat Ridge – $7.8 million

Guidance for Use of the Funds

State and local governments can use the funds to cover costs obligated by Dec. 31, 2024, for 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;
• Providing premium pay to eligible workers of the government who are performing essential work, or by providing grants to eligible employers that have eligible workers who perform essential work;
• Funding government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue caused by the pandemic; and
• Making necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.

At this time we are still awaiting further guidance from the U.S. Treasury Department on the use of these funds.

Jefferson County Rescue Fund Distribution

Jefferson County will receive $113 million in federal relief funds as part of ARPA. The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners quickly began the work on examining ways to share those Rescue funds and have assigned county staff to support implementation of programs and expenditures within certain key areas, with ongoing assessment by the Board of County Commissioners.

More will be shared as the program develops. The initial funding estimates and programs and services could shift to other areas based on demand or response activities, so the county will remain flexible and continually refine the county’s program to maximize fiscal responsibility and investment.

Rescue Team Mission

The mission of the Jefferson County Rescue Team is to support our community through the distribution of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) as authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), by providing stewardship, fiscal oversight, and compliance with federal regulations from ARPA.

COVID-19 Funding and Relief Objectives

• Protect the health and well-being of all Jefferson County residents and visitors.
• Support the economic recovery of our residents and businesses across the county.
• Support the most vulnerable needs which fall under the ARPA guidelines across the county.
• Establish a data-driven decision-making process to assess community needs and focus on reaching the most vulnerable communities.
• Evaluate and grant funding of projects which meet ARPA eligibility and requirements, has no other funding sources, facilitates equity, has established key performance indicators, and falls within one of the county’s eight priority areas that have been identified:
  • Housing
  • Behavioral Health
  • Workforce Readiness
  • Economic Recovery
  • Public Health & Safety
  • Food Insecurity
  • County Services & Operations
  • Revenue Replacement
• Fund COVID-19 expenses in a manner that preserves county resources, meets community needs, and facilitates equity by recognizing grant streams and funding opportunities while being good stewards.

The Rescue Team will provide regular updates at public hearings and meetings about progress and funding opportunities through the December 31, 2024 expenditure deadline. To access this information or attend a meeting, see our Meetings and Agendas web page. Availability of new grants will be announced on the Jefferson County website, the Jefferson County social media platforms, and other communications.

Contact Us

You can contact the Jeffco Rescue Team via email with questions or issues.