How Much Lakewood Will Get From $350 Billion American Rescue Plan

LAKEWOOD, WA — The U.S. Department of Treasury on Monday released a breakdown showing how much financial help communities can expect from the $350 billion set aside by Congress for Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.

Lakewood is set to receive $17.8 million. It is one of 34 Washington metropolitan cities allocated financial support through the support program. The only other Pierce County city identified for significant funding is Tacoma, which will receive nearly $61 million.

"With this funding, communities hit hard by COVID-19 will be able to return to a semblance of normalcy; they'll be able to rehire teachers, firefighters and other essential workers – and to help small businesses reopen safely," said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in a statement.

The emergency funding for local governments was established by the American Rescue Plan Act earlier this year. The funds are meant to be used to respond to acute pandemic-response needs, fill revenue shortfalls among state and local governments, and support the communities and populations hardest-hit by the COVID-19 crisis, according to the Treasury.

In addition to allowing for flexible spending up to the level of their revenue loss, the Treasury says, recipients can use funds to:

• Support the public health response, by funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral health care, mental health and substance misuse treatment, and certain public health and safety personnel.
• Address the economic fallout caused by the public health emergency, including by rehiring public workers, providing aid to those in need of food, housing or other financial aid, offering small business assistance, and extending support for industries hardest hit by the crisis.
• Aid the communities and populations hardest hit by the crisis, supporting an equitable recovery by addressing not only the immediate harms of the pandemic, but its exacerbation of longstanding public health, economic and educational disparities.
• Provide premium pay for essential workers, offering additional support to those who have borne and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service during the pandemic.
• Invest in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure, improving access to clean drinking water, supporting vital wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and expanding access to broadband internet.

Patch Staffer Jenna Fisher contributed to this report.