American Rescue Plan Act - Recovery Fund

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Thanks to ARPA-enabled funding from the City of Winston-Salem, Old Salem has been able to fully reopen buildings that have been closed since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, including the Tavern Museum pictured here. During the pandemic, Old Salem was closed entirely –or only partially reopened –for more than two years. ARPA-enabled funds allowed us to hire staff members so that Old Salem could reopen all of our buildings, including the Tavern, Where the Moravians welcomed guests who came to town including President George Washington!

kitchen area in Tavern

Background

The city received $51.7 million from the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. Money for the fund was included in the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that Congress passed in March 2021. 

The Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund is designed to give cities flexibility in responding to the health emergency and in funding projects, programs, or organizations that were economically impacted by the pandemic. In addition to programs specific to pandemic response and recovery, certain improvements to water, sewer and broadband infrastructure also can be funded, as well as programs or improvements for low-income census tracts. For more information on the American Rescue Plan Act, visit the U.S. Department of the Treasury's website.

The City is committed to these principles in spending ARPA funds:

  • Transparency. The city will be open and transparent with all uses of ARPA funds, including holding public input sessions and creating public-facing dashboards.
  • Restoration. The city will use part of the funds to provide assistance to city operations and the local economy affected by COVID-19.
  • Transformation. The city will be outcome-oriented in the use of funds and will document progress made in specific and in strategic priority areas.
  • Fiscal Soundness. Because the funds are one-time in nature, the city will seek not to create recurring obligations using these funds.
  • Equity. All program and grant expenditures will undergo an equity review to ensure resources are equitably distributed throughout the community.

As of January 2023, the City Council approved taking the U.S. Treasury allowed "Revenue Replacement" method, which was calculated to be about $49 million. Doing so enabled the City to more effectively partner with non-profit agencies and City departments (without as heavy of compliance burden).

ARPA-Enabled Spending Dashboard

Timeline



  • November 27, 2023 - The Mayor and City Council heard from City Management about a resolution to provide ARPA-Enabled Transformational Grantees with the operational capital in an amount not exceeding 10 percent of the grantee’s total award. Due to the ongoing expressed needs and challenges, this resolution amends all Transformational Grant-associated resolutions to ratify actions by the City Manager and to use their discretion to offer City Council-approved grantees that have ongoing capital needs. Learn more.
  • November 27, 2023 -  The Mayor and City Council have fully ratified all the compliance requirements required by the Uniform Guidance to ensure the institutional, managerial, and financial capability to manage its internal projects and the potential sub-recipients projects.  Learn more. 
  • November 13, 2023 - The Community Development/Housing/General Government Committee heard the update on the Computer Outreach and Education (CORE) Project. In September 2022, Tom Kureczka, the City’s Chief Information Officer, and Lakisha Jordan, the Executive Director of the non-profit WinstonNet proposed a project from FCDE, Bridging the Digital Divide and Bringing Digital Equity to the City of Winston-Salem. The City Council approved a request for $2 million of the City’s American Rescue Plan Act funds from the Forsyth County Digital Equity Committee (FCDE). Learn more.
  • November 13, 2023  -The Community Development/Housing/General Government Committee heard the update on an ARPA-Enabled Transformational Grantee Crosby Scholars who received funding of $116,573. Crosby Scholars sought to create a new portal system in their database management system to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their efforts to assist public school students in preparing for successful college enrollment and career pathways. Learn more. 
  • October 16, 2023 -The Mayor and City Council authorized the resolution of funding from ARPA Replacement Revenue to Wynnefield Forward, LLC for the Development of The Residences at Indiana Avenue - $4,850,000.Learn more.
  • October 16, 2023 - Through resolutions approved on May 16, 2022, and February 20, 2023, the Mayor and City Council authorized a total of $3,170,000, consisting of $2,170,000 in State Fiscal Recovery Funds and $1,000,000 in HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) funds, The City has since switched the $1,000,000 in HOME funds to ARPA-Enabled funds for the 62-unit family rental development at 600 Peters Creek Parkway, known as The Flats at Peters Creek. This is the site of the former Budget Inn.  Learn more.
  • October 9, 2023- The Community Development/Housing/General Government Committee heard information regarding the already-in-use policy practices of the City's (ARPA/CSLFRF) programs. The City Council will formally vote on implementing this policy.  Learn more.
  • September 18, 2023 - City Council approves Permanent Financing for 216-unit multifamily Rental Development known as The Lofts at Motor Road - Wynnefield Properties, Inc. - $6,579,000 (Northeast Ward). Learn more.
  • September 11, 2023-The Community Development/Housing/General Government Committee heard a presentation on the proposed project at Indiana Avenue located in the (North Ward), which intends to create a multifamily development of one hundred eighty units (180). The developer seeking funds for the affordable housing project is Wynnefield Properties.  Learn more.
  • August 21, 2023 – The City Council amended, granted, and ratified the City Manager’s authority from the October 2022,-November 2022, and January 2023 resolutions to be able to provide Transformational Grant Program grantees an avenue for initiating projects with 25% of the total award upfront and then switching to reimbursement on a monthly basis thereafter. Learn more.
  •  August 14, 2023 - The Community Development/Housing/General Government Committee received an update on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)-Enabled Framework and Grant Expenditures. Learn more.  On August 14, the CD/H/GG committee also heard information on a potential special project: The Lofts at Motor Rd. The Lofts at Motor Rd. is a two-hundred sixteen-unit (216) multi-family affordable housing development, which could be granted $6,579,533. The City Council will hear more about this project in September. Learn more. 
  • March 25-29, 2023 - Several City Council Members traveled to Washington, D.C. for the National League of Cities' Congressional City Summit. While there, City Council Members met with our federal delegation (Senate and House representatives) and provided them with a briefing sheet on ARPA-Enabled Funds. Learn more. 
  • January 17, 2023 - City Council approves $350,000 to Smart Start of Forsyth County for Pre-K Initiatives as part of the City's Crime Prevention Plan. Learn more. 
  • January 3, 2023 - City Council approves an additional $4 million in Transformational Grants to community organizations and $500,000 for land acquisition in the Northeast Ward. Learn more.
  • November 14, 2022 - City Council approves $1.7 million in Housing and Neighborhood Development projects. Learn more.
  • October 17, 2022 - City Council approves $6 million in Transformational Grants to community organizations. Learn more.
  • September 19, 2022 - City Council approves $2 million for a partnership with WinstonNet to implement a Digital Equity Pilot Program. Learn more.
  • August 29, 2022 - Staff provides an update on the 89 proposals received through the Transformational Grants application. Learn more.
  • March 28, 2022 - City Council approves revenue replacement, in alignment with UNC School of Government best practices for management of ARPA funds. Learn more.
  • February 21, 2022 - City Council approves a set-aside of $10.5 million for a transformational grants program. Learn more.
  • December 2021 Update public briefing -- Recovery grant eligibility and application preview. Watch in English. View the PowerPoint Presentation slide deck
  • November 15, 2021 - City Council approves a recovery grants program to support businesses and non-profits. Learn more.
  • November 2021 Update public briefing -- Grant eligibility, prioritization, and administration. Watch in English. 
  • October 2021 Update public briefing – Allocation plan overview. Watch in English. Watch in Spanish.
  • September 15, 2021 - UPDATED: Map of Qualified Census Tracts. Go to the map.
  • August 23, 2021 - Special workshop of the City Council on potential Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. Learn more. Or, watch the meeting.
  • August 16, 2021 - City Council resolved to accept the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. Learn more.
  • April 28, 2021 - Public Input meeting on the American Rescue Plan Act. Watch the meeting.
  • April 5, 2021 - Update on the Next Steps for the American Rescue Plan Act. Learn more.
  • March 15, 2021 - Update on the American Rescue Plan Act. Learn more.