American Rescue Plan Act
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provides emergency relief funding to local governments. Clackamas County has received a total of approximately $81.2 million (one-half in May 2021, the other in June 2022). All funds must be dedicated by December 2024 and spent by December 2026.
Criteria to spend these funds is outlined by the federal government, which details how this money can be used to best recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
With these funds, Clackamas County is committed to supporting our community. Below, please find the five areas which funds can be allocated toward and their descriptions, and how much of the $81.2 million we have currently committed.
The funding commitments information on this page was last updated on Oct. 6, 2022.
Update 10/27/22: ARPA Webinar for nonprofits and community based organizations
Update 10/5/22: Board Allocates Nearly $29 Million of ARPA Funds
Update 10/4/22: $1.8 million available for households affected by pandemic
How will the funds be dispersed?
As of October 2022, Clackamas County has committed $69,119,788 of the $81,227,382 APRA funds received, leaving $12,107,594 to be committed.
In addition to the breakdown below, $2 million was also committed for ARPA funding administration/software.
Support Public Health Response
This funding can go toward certain public health-related activities that help stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and address treatment/care stemming from it. Thus far, Clackamas County has committed $4 million in the continued operation of public health efforts by our Emergency Operations Center, which has been staffed since COVID-19 was first detected in Oregon. Another $2,234,455 has been committed to cover the costs of a hotel/motel emergency sheltering program (11/2/21), $4.8 million into a Fairgrounds Multipurpose Facility (10/5/22), $2.9 million in health center relocations (10/5/22), $2 million for C800 communication towers (10/5/22) and another $156,000 was dedicated to temporary hotel shelter/other warming shelter activities (2/2/22).
Address Negative Economic Impacts
This funding can go toward providing much needed relief to struggling local businesses, nonprofits, industries, workers, and other public sector entities. Thus far, Clackamas County has committed $6 million in nonprofit support, and $15,200,000 for the Gladstone and Oak Lodge libraries (10/5/22). Please note that $4 million in business support was committed on July 15, 2021, but this money was returned back to the ARPA general pot on June 2, 2022. Please see video links/materials below to watch/review how this decision was made. In no way does this action change other commitments, nor does it preclude the county from investing dollars back into this area in the future.
Replace Public Sector Revenue Loss
This funding can go toward restoring lost funding that the county experienced in delivering its services. Clackamas County has invested $11,719,103 in this area.
Invest in Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure
This funding can go toward investments the county wants to make in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure. Thus far, Clackamas County has committed $10.1 million in broadband infrastructure, specifically to expand the Clackamas Broadband Exchange to those lacking reliable internet connectivity, and $4,003,048 in stormwater repairs (10/5/22).
Premium Pay for Essential Workers
This funding provided premium pay to workers who put themselves at the greatest risk early during the pandemic, as their jobs required them to do so. Clackamas County has committed $4,007,182 in this area, with no additional investments expected.
Webinars for nonprofits
During 2022, #ClackCo hosted three webinars for community based organizations (CBOs) and nonprofits, in order to help facilitate the grant process for them to apply for ARPA funds. Thus far, a total of $6 million in nonprofit support has been approved by #ClackCo Commissioners. These webinars covered a general orientation of ARPA-funded grant opportunities and details about the next steps of the process. Webinars are available below.
Questions about these webinars and related inquires can be directed to ARPA Community-Based Organization Liaison Jennifer Hardnett at jhardnett@clackamas.us.
Survey Results
Prior to commissioners allocating the vast majority of the first round of APRA funding, in May 2021, Clackamas County invited residents to take an unscientific survey to gauge how the community values different uses of the funds. Our community responded! More than 3,600 people took the survey, which was the second-most survey responses in county history. The survey results were just one of many resources county commissioners rely on when making decisions about how best to invest funds.
You can view the full survey results and analysis. Please note that respondents who failed to indicate they live in Clackamas County were filtered out of these results.
News/Meetings
| 2022 | |
|---|---|
| Oct. 27 | Webinar for nonprofits and community based organizations |
| Oct. 5 | Board Allocates Nearly $29 Million of ARPA Funds Press Release |
| Oct. 5 | ARPA Project Update and Direction (Capital Projects Only) Policy Session packet video |
| Oct. 4 | $1.8 Million available for households affected by pandemic Press Release |
| Aug. 9 | County Administrator Issues/Updates Approval of a Subrecipient Grant Agreement with AntFarm to fund basic goods and services to qualifying households impacted by COVID-19. Grant value is $2,000,000. packet video |
| Aug. 9 | County Administrator Issues/Updates Broadband Funding Opportunity packet video |
| July 27 | ARPA Grant Funding: A Webinar for Nonprofits |
| July 27 | County Administrator Issues/Updates ARPA Project Update and Direction packet video |
| June 29 | Service Award for Essential Employees Policy Session video |
| June 28 | ARPA Non-Profit and Community Based Organization Update County Administrator Issues/Updates packet video |
| June 22 | ARPA fund disbursement request Policy Session packet video |
| June 2 | Approval of a Subrecipient Grant Agreement with Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon to provide a small business assistance grant program on behalf of Clackamas County in support of the local business community recovering from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic Business Meeting packet video |
| May 31 | Update on Distribution of ARPA Funds to Businesses County Administrator Issues/Updates packet video |
| April 13 | ARPA Grant Funding Explained: A Forum for CBOs/Nonprofits |
| March 14 | County issues funding opportunity to help small businesses Press Release |
| March 1 | Clackamas Broadband Exchange ARPA Broadband Update Policy Session packet video |
| Feb. 15 | Clackamas Broadband Exchange ARPA Broadband Update County Administrator Issues/Updates packet video |
| Feb. 2 | ARPA Funding Decision Policy Session packet video |
| Jan. 31 | Approval to use American Rescue Plan Act funds to cover the taxes and PERS expenses related to the essential employee awards Business Meeting packet video |
| Jan. 5 | ARPA Updates and Recommendations Policy Session packet video |
| 2021 | |
| Nov. 23 | Gladstone Library Policy Session packet video |
| Nov. 2 | ARPA Funding Requests Part of County Administration Issues/Updates packet video |
| Nov. 2 | $2.23 million in ARPA funds allocated to emergency shelter program Press Release |
| Aug. 10 | American Rescue Plan Act Phase 1 Broadband Expansion Policy Session packet video |
| July 15 | Commissioners start allocating ARPA funds Press Release |
| July 13 | Continued Issues/American Rescue Plan Act Proposed Expenditures Policy Session packet video |
| June 8 | American Rescue Plan Act update Part of County Administration Issues/Updates video |
| June 1 | American Rescue Plan Act Payments Update and Board Feedback Policy Session packet video |
| March 30 | American Rescue Plan Act of 2021-COVID Relief Policy Session packet video |