American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) Investments

Signed into law on March 11, 2021, The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) provides $350 billion in additional funding for state and local governments. The law is intended to help states and municipalities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Needham is expected to receive a total of $9,199,175 from the state and Norfolk County. More information about how Needham is investing those funds is below. 

Eligible uses of these funds include:

• Revenue replacement for the provision of government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, relative to the revenues collected in the most recent fiscal year prior to the emergency;
• COVID-19 expenditures or negative economic impacts of COVID-19. including assistance to small businesses, households, and hard-hit industries, and economic recovery;
• Premium pay for essential workers;
• Investments in sewer, water, and broadband infrastructure.

Restrictions on the uses of these funds include:

• Funds allocated to states cannot be used to directly or indirectly offset tax reductions or delay a tax or tax increase; 
• Funds cannot be deposited into any pension fund
• Funding must be obligated by the end of calendar year 2024 and spent by the end of calendar year 2026.