American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding

The City of Urbana received 12.97 million dollars as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which was passed on March 11, 2021. The purpose of these funds is to support state, local, and Tribal governments in their response to and recovery from the COVID-19 public health emergency. To coordinate the public engagement that will inform ARPA fund priorities, draft a plan, solicit and review proposals, and ensure that processes and outcomes are properly documented and reported according to Federal guidelines, the City has entered into an agreement with the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission for staff support in administering the ARPA funds. 

The City has finalized its ARPA Concept Plan and it will guide how the City spends its allocation of ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. The Concept Plan has eight funding goals:

1. Improve accessibility of public recreation space and youth programming.

2. Increase support for community violence interventions.

3. Reduce housing costs for those that need it most.

4. Increase availability and affordability of mental health services.

5. Increase availability and affordability of food.

6. Increase job training and placement opportunities.

7. Provide relief and support to local businesses.

8. Invest in infrastructure to increase community health, safety, and future resilience.

The City of Urbana received 46 applications requesting $40 million. The City awarded $9.9 million in funding to 25 projects. The table below shows the number of projects and funds allocated to each Concept Plan Goal.

 For additional information about the City of Urbana's process for allocating ARPA funds please click here.