Alexandria Considers Use Of American Rescue Plan Act Funding

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The City of Alexandria is considering uses for American Rescue Plan Act federal funding and will hold virtual meetings on potential projects and programs.

The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 signed by President Joe Biden in March includes $130.2 billion to local governments for COVID-19 pandemic recovery. The funding Alexandria will receive isn't finalized yet, but the city expects an allocation between $30 million and $60 million. This will be divided into two allotments: one in 2021 and the second in 2022.

American Rescue Plan Act funds may be used to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency or its economic impacts, to provide government services to the extent of reduced revenue due to COVID-19, or to make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure. Funds must be used by December 31, 2024.

The city is gathering public input to inform a two-part draft spending plan for the federal funding. The first part of the plan will address spending of funds received in 2021, and the second part will be developed in fall 2021 to address the second allotment of funds expected in 2022. City Council will consider the first phase of the spending plan on July 6.

Alexandria City Public Schools will receive its own allocation of federal funding, so school projects will not considered under the city process.

The city has released a list of potential programs to be considered for American Rescue Plan Act funds:

Business Recovery & Workforce Development

• Increased support services for existing businesses, including consulting for marketing,
• financial, and legal matters
• Increased support for new businesses, including business counseling support services
• Support for Commercial Business Districts to assist with economic recovery efforts and
• long-term program development and implementation
• Re-employment and upskilling services to get people back into the workforce, including
• English as a Second Language training, digital literacy, and access to supportive services.
• Early childcare workforce initiative to assist parents get back to work
• Infrastructure and amenities to permanently close the 100 block of King Street to vehicular traffic
• Support hotel sector recovery through tax relief and meeting incentive program
• Accelerate tourism recovery with increased advertising and marketing to capitalize on current
• pent-up demand

Housing

• Increased rental assistance to help prevent evictions and navigate services to maintain
• long-term housing stability
• Assistance to low-income residents and seniors to improve housing conditions, air quality and safety features in their residence
• Capital and Infrastructure Improvements for affordable housing developments

Health & Social Services

• Improved access to City services and assistance programs, including food hubs/distribution, transportation aid, childcare, and healthcare, particularly on the West End and in Arlandria
• Increase of program and service awareness to LGBTQ and BIPOC communities
• Basic income pilot program for cash transfer and financial advisement to low-income families
• Improved mental health services within the emergency management and court systems
• Early childcare facility and City services support areas included as part of the Minnie Howard High School project

• Support for Alexandria arts organizations which have been significantly impacted as a result of COVID-19
• Increased African-American history preservation, conservation, and tourism
• Seed Funding for Alexandria Arts District Community Development Authority
• City of Alexandria 275th Anniversary Celebration in 2024, promoting the city as a top Waterfront destination and celebrating the city’s history
• Enhanced holiday events for Alexandria residents and to attract increased tourism

Infrastructure

• Stormwater spot improvements and increased maintenance

Technology

Digital Equity initiatives, including identification of infrastructure, device, and digital literacy gaps in the community, public facilities, and programming, as well as Wi-Fi capabilities in public facilities and space

Government Efficiency

• Ensure increased cybersecurity capabilities and threat protection of city assets, particularly as related to “work from home” environments
• Expand technology capabilities opportunities for virtual public meetings, engagement, and services

• Solar powered back-up power systems for critical city operating facilities, including shelters
• and fire stations
• Indoor air quality improvement in City facilities

Residents, businesses and organizations can provide feedback by May 13 by ranking the city's proposed projects or proposing other projects. A survey is available in English, Spanish, Amharic and Arabic, and a second survey will be conducted in June for feedback on the plan.

The city will also host virtual meetings on Saturday, May 8 at 10 a.m. and Monday, May 10 at 7 p.m. to review the funding guidelines and discuss project proposals.

For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/AmericanRescuePlan.