Public relief fund website has been launched

Governor Mike Parson announces the launch of a public website to help guide those accessing Missouri’s “American Rescue Plan Act” (ARPA) funds.

The American Rescue Plan Act was created to mitigate the negative impacts caused by COVID-19. Missouri received about $2.7 billion in state Fiscal Recovery Funds for COVID relief efforts, this was signed into law on March 11th, 2021.

Under this act there are several categories in which spending is allowed under federal regulations for the ARPA state and local fiscal recovery funds. The categories that are eligible to receive such funds include:

• Support public health expenditures, including funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral healthcare, and certain public health and safety staff;
• Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, including economic harms to workers, households, small businesses, impacted industries, and the public sector;
• Replace lost public sector revenue, using this funding to provide government services up to the extent of the reduction in revenue experienced due to the pandemic; and
• Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, making necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, support vital wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and to expand access to broadband internet

Within these categories it is up to each state to decide how they believe the money should be distributed for the needs of their communities. The new website will allow visitors to see how the relief funds are being distributed in Missouri and details on how businesses and organizations can apply for funds.

Mike Parson commented saying, “We are excited to announce the launch of a public website to help guide access to Missouri’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.