Help Is Here Roundup: Federal, State, and Local Officials Praise American Rescue Plan as Provisions Spur Record Drop in Poverty.

8 min readJul 30, 2021

Federal, State, and Local officials from across the country continue to see benefits from the American Rescue Plan for their constituents months after its passage.

This week officials praised record drops in poverty thanks to federal relief programs funded by the American Rescue Plan. According to an Urban Institute analysis, a combination of pandemic aid programs featured in the American Rescue Plan including Stimulus Checks, Unemployment Insurance, and Child Tax Credit programs, have contributed to make the number of poor Americans expected to fall this year by nearly 20 million from 2018 levels, a decline of almost 45 percent.

Meanwhile, state and local governments continue to use pandemic relief funds to revitalize their communities. This past week, Michigan Governor Whitmer announced $100 million in ARP funding would go towards investing in affordable housing in the state. Virginia Governor Northam also announced Clean Water Investments Totaling $411.5 Million and $250 million in ARP money for school air quality projects.

See more examples below of how the American Rescue Plan continues to benefit communities across America:

HELP IS HERE STATE AND LOCAL STORIES:

AR: Arkansas Teck’s plan for virus aid approved [Arkansas Democrat Gazette, 07/24/2021]

AL: Using federal funding from the American Rescue Plan, newly vaccinated Gadsden residents are now eligible to receive $100 (with an opportunity to receive $5,000) [WVTM13, 07/25/2021]

AK: Akiak to become first in Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta with high-speed broadband internet. [KTOO, 07/26/2021]

CT: Connecticut officials encourage families to take advantage of summer enrichment programs aimed at making up for missed classroom time [Hartford Courant, 07/29/2021]

FL: Florida seaports to get millions in funding to help with pandemic losses. [Bay News 9, 07/29/2021]

GA: Georgia’s plan approved to spend $1.4B in federal school aid. [WCTV, 07/26/2021]

HI: Hawai‘i’s Rural Health Clinics Received $297,000 for COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts [Maui Now, 07/23/2021]

HI: Hawaii to receive over $3M in federal coronavirus relief for homelessness and prison populations. [Star Advertiser, 07/23/2021]

IL: Beatrice receives over $3 million in federal funding for COVID relief. [Beatrice Daily Sun, 07/28/2021]

IL: Local Illinois governments now eligible for $742 million in COVID-19 relief. [WSILTV, 07/22/2021]

IL: Small local governments get financial help [FoxIllinois, 07/23/2021]

IA: Waterloo Schools looking to use federal relief funds to purchase laptops, improve internet access. [KWWL, 07/23/2021]

IA: Iowa families to receive $159.6M under Child Tax Credit Expansion [Clinton Herald, 07/22/2021]

IA: U.S. Dept of Ed approves remaining $28M of ARP funding to support Iowa K-12 schools [CBS2Iowa, 07/22/2021]

KY: COVID-19 Relief Funds will help utility customers [Spectrum News, 07/29/2021]

KY: Kentucky cities to receive $157 million in federal funds to offset COVID-19 expenses, loss of revenue. [Lex 18, 07/23/2021]

KY: Western Ky. college to give students up to $1,500. [KFVS 12, 07/28/2021]

KY: Millions allocated to increase vaccinations in rural communities. [WPSD, 07/26/2021]

KY: Kentucky Humanities awards over $800,00 to COVID-impacted organizations [ABC 36 News, 07/26/2021]

MD: Tax refund saveraging $1,600 oare on the way. Here’s who gets the money. [FoxBaltimore, 07/28/2021]

MD: SBA Has Awarded $7.6 Billion of $16 Billion in #SaveOurStages Relief, Many Indie Venues Still Waiting [Chron, 07/27/2021]

MA: Baker announces $17.3M in grants to repair dams, seawalls [Fairfield Citizen, 07/28/2021]

MI:Gov. Whitmer to announce affordable housing investment plan [WWMT, 07/27/2021]

MO: Montana rural clinics receive federal funds aimed at vaccine educations [Montana Standard, 07/23/2021]

MO: Cori Bush announces $1.1 million to support Urban League Head Start Program. [St Louis American, 07/26/2021]

MT: Montana rural clinics receive federal funds aimed at vaccine education. [MT Standard, 07/23/2021]

NV: New Program For Pandemic Economic Survivors [KNCO, 07/29/2021]

NV: Nevada County Supervisors launch $2 million community resiliency grants program [YubaNet, 07/27/2021]

NH: NH Delegation Announces Nearly $2 Million for COVID Detection & Mitigation for Vulnerable Populations [Pappas. House.Gov, 07/23/2021]

NH: $112 million in federal relief funds up for grabs by municipalities in New Hampshire. [WMUR, 07/26/2021]

NH: Bill would send federal aid to minor league ballparks that closed during pandemic. [WMUR, 07/26/2021]

NJ: Here Are The NJ Colleges Getting Millions In COVID Relief Funds. [Patch.com, 07/23/2021]

NJ: Some NJ School Districts Could See State Aid Cuts Restored [Patch, 07/23/2021]

NM: Two southern New Mexico hospitals earn federal grants to boost COVID-19 vaccinations [Demingheadlight, 07/24/2021]

NM: State distributes $63M in American Rescue Plan funds to local governments [Carlsbad Current Argus, 07/27/2021]

NM: New Mexico schools’ plan for reopening puts federal dollars to work as COVID-19 cases rise [Demingheadlight, 07/22/2021]

NY: CUNY to forgive up to $125 million in student debt using federal stimulus funds. [NY Daily News, 07/28/2021]

NY: New York State Education Department Announces Availability of $6.2 Million in Federal funds to Assist Libraries and Other Cultural Institutions Address the Digital Divide [NYSED.Gov, 07/28/2021]

NY: Syracuse to spend $2 million to plant 3,600 trees [CNY Central, 07/28/2021]

OR: Clackamas County approves $12.5M for businesses, nonprofits [SandyPost, 07/15/2021]

OR: South Bend announces “build the Budget” initiative [SDBT, 07/22/2021]

OR: Portland leaders earmark more than half of federal relief money for housing assistance. [KGW8, 07/28/2021]

PA: Susquehanna University students will be receiving emergency student aid grants as part of American Rescue Plan. [North Central PA, 07/24/2021]

PA: Norristown Planning Use Of $20 Million In Economic Stimulus Money. [Patch.com, 07/23/2021]

SC: SC. Dept. of Ed. allocates $14.7 million to expand early childhood educations, 4K program [NBC4WYFF, 07/28/2021]

SC: Biden administration provides $842K to support SC rural health clinics & vaccinations [ABC News, 07/23/2021]

TN: Some families could be getting a little extra money in their pockets this year.. [Fox 13 Memphis, 07/24/2021]

TX: Happening Now: $30 million in recovery funds available for Harris County families impacted by COVID. [CW39, 07/28/2021]

VA: Gov. Northam Proposes Clean Water Investments Totaling $411.5 Million in Federal Funds [CBF, 07/27/2021]

VA: Virginia Gov. Northam Proposes $862 Million of American Rescue Plan Act Funds to Partially Refill Unemployment Trust Fund [Tennessee Star, 07/29/2021]

VA: Va. plans to invest millions via American Rescue Plan to upgrade HVAC systems in schools [Wavy, 07/26/2021]

VA: Northam proposes spending $500 million in federal relief money for school air quality projects. [The Washington Post, 07/26/2021]

VT: First installment of American Rescue Plan funding brings $29.4 million to Vermont [News10, 07/23/2021]

VT: Vermont Summer Learning Programs Boosted by Federal COVID Recovery Funds [NBCNECN, 07/23/2021]

WA: Predominantly Black and Hispanic Catholic College erases tuition debt for 540 students [The Jesuit review, 07/28/2021]

WV: Sen. Manchin announces $3.7 million for WV students experiencing homelessness [WBOY, 07/28/2021]

WI: Pandemic Recovery Funding in Milwaukee. [PBS Wisconsin, 07/23/2021]

WI: Wisconsin gets $3/1 million for rural Covid-19 vaccination efforts [WBAY, 07/23/2021]

WY: $300 million in stimulus money earmarked for coal communities [Star Tribune, 07/28/2021]

HELP IS HERE STATE AND LOCAL SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS:

CT Senate: