American Rescue Plan (ARP)

Bronner assists state and local government clients navigate the American Rescue Plan, including program design, implementation, compliance, and accountability.

The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) allocated $350 billion for governments to recover from the pandemic. As communities recover and the program matures, the guidance continues to evolve. Now, not only can governments use these funds to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency and its negative economic impacts, but also to respond to natural disasters, match additional federal grant programs and re-pay certain Surface Transportation loans.   

ARP SLFRF funding presents a powerful opportunity to improve lives and attain fiscal stability post-pandemic. However, it also brings risk, particularly for recipients with limited experience managing federal funds at this unprecedented level. From 2022 to 2023, the U.S. Treasury released three rules, numerous FAQ’s, and several iterations of compliance and reporting guidance. ARP funds must be deployed efficiently, with careful attention to project eligibility, federal compliance, and reporting requirements, as well as community needs and feedback. 

Bronner supports state and local governments in delivering ARP’s transformative potential by creating an accountability structure to ensure the impactful and compliant deployment of funds. 

Bronner’s ARP methodology:  

  • Designs program structures for eligible uses, creating easy-to-navigate systems for subrecipients and internal government departments.

  • Delivers tools for effective program documentation, grants management, and federal reporting.

  • Supports program evaluation, use of evidence-based models, project review, and transparent public relations.

  • Designs key metrics to demonstrate investment impact including equitable outcomes.

  • Accompanies clients through the full ARP life cycle, including program design, implementation management, and close-out meeting federal grant standards.