American Rescue Plan

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319) into law. The $1.9 trillion package is intended to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, including the public health and economic impacts.  The County of Hancock has received an allocation of $10.6 million from the American Rescue Plan.

Allowable Uses for these funds:

• Support public health response: Fund COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral health care and certain county public health, public safety, human services, and other related staff
• Address negative economic impacts: Respond to economic harms to workers, families, small businesses, impacted industries and rehiring of public sector workers (including county staff)
• Replace public sector revenue loss: Use funds to provide government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue experienced during the pandemic
• Premium pay for essential workers: Offer additional compensation, up to $13 per hour in additional wages, to those – both county employees and other workers in the community – who have faced and continue to face the greatest health risks due to their service
• Water, sewer and broadband infrastructure: Make necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, invest in wastewater and stormwater infrastructure and provide unserved or underserved locations with new or expanded broadband access

Resources