State Agencies Propose Spending Virginia’s Rescue Funds
Virginia Mercury: July 8, 2021 | Virginia has $4.3 billion in federal aid to spend and no shortage of ideas. State agencies hoping to tap into American Rescue Plan funds have submitted wish lists that top more than $18 billion, floating proposals ranging from new helicopters for Virginia State Police to $1,000 cash payments for essential workers.
Northam proposes $353M for small biz, tourism relief
Virginia Business: July 12, 2021 | Ahead of the General Assembly’s August special session, Gov. Ralph Northam said Monday he wants to spend $353 million of Virginia’s federal relief funding on small business recovery and assisting the tourism industry.
Greater Augusta Tourism Council Reveals SAW Reopening Video
June 22, 2022 | The Greater Augusta Tourism Council (GART), the regional tourism organization for Staunton, Augusta County, and Waynesboro, released a new Staunton, Augusta, Waynesboro reopening promotional video. The video is a part of of GART’s GO Virginia Grant, which developed the the ExploreSAW website and SAW Savings Pass program in order to support local businesses that have been adversely affected by COVID-19.
JMU Launches Project THRIVE | Rebuilding, Relaunching, and Reviving Local Businesses
June 11, 2021
Project THRIVE is a six-week, virtual series that aims to help rebuild, relaunch, and revive local businesses and nonprofit organizations that have been impacted by the pandemic.
The Project THRIVE team is looking for a total of 8 to 10 businesses AND 8 to 10 nonprofit organizations to join their first two cohorts. Selected businesses will start their sessions on June 7, 20201, and end July 15, 2021. Selected nonprofits will start their sessions on July 19, 20201, and end August 26, 2021
U.S. Department of Treasury Provides Guidance on Non-entitlement Units of Local Government
May 25, 2021 | Non-Entitlement Units (NEUs) of Local Government should expect to receive Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund payments through their state governments. State governments will receive a specific allocation of these funds from U.S. Treasury and are responsible for distributing these funds to NEUs. Award amounts are based on the population of the NEU, not to exceed 75% of an NEU’s most recent budget. In the Central Shenandoah Region, The Towns of Bridgewater, Broadway, Craigsville, Dayton, Elkton, Glasgow, Goshen, Grottoes, Monterey, Mt. Crawford, and Timberville, as well as the Cities of Buena Vista and Lexington are considered Non-entitlement Units of Government.
U.S. Department of Treasury Releases Pre-award Guidelines for American Rescue Funds
U.S. Dept. of Treasury April 15, 2021
Prior to the formal launch of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Program, those entities that are eligible to receive a direct payment of funds from Treasury under the program should prepare certain information in advance as outlined below. By undertaking these preparatory steps, eligible entities will be better positioned to receive payments from Treasury in a more timely manner after the program is launched.
Broadway Approves COVID-19 Relief Allocation
Daily News Record: April 9, 2021
As localities wait to receive their share of the latest COVID-19 relief funding from the American Rescue Plan, Broadway Town Council is laying the groundwork on how its allocation will be disbursed.
Fed says Fifth District Economy Shows Moderate Growth
Virginia Business: April 15, 2021
The economy has grown “moderately” in recent weeks, with strong production increases, employment rising and consumer spending up in the Federal Reserve’s Fifth District, which includes Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland, according to the latest edition of the Fed’s Beige Book, released Wednesday.
Telework!VA Provides Telework Program Assistance
Last fall the CSPDC worked with Telework!VA consultant, Robin Mack to host a staff retreat on the benefits, challenges and best practices of teleworking. Ms. Mack surveyed staff and created a customized presentation for both employees and managers to better succeed in our new virtual workplace.
Robin Mack and the Telework!VA team are available to assist other organizations, businesses and employers in the region create and implement a telework program. Contact RideShare or Telweork!VA directly to set up a free webinar and learn more about the services available.
American Rescue Bill
President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in early March. The $1.9 trillion relief bill provides direct assistance to state and local governments along with billions of dollars for public health, vaccines, education, transportation, housing and more.
In the CSPDC region, the counties of Augusta, Bath, Highland, Rockbridge and Rockingham will receive a little over $36M based on population. The cities of Buena Vista, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Staunton and Waynesboro will receive around $30M based on a modified CDBG grant formula. Unlike CARES funding, towns will receive their own allocation. The 11 towns in the CSPDC region are expected to receive over $21M in ARPA funding. Final amounts will be determined by the U.S. Department of Treasury when they issue their guidance.
Allowable uses of funds include 4 broad categories: (1) responding to the COVID-19 public health crisis and its negative economic impacts to households, small businesses and nonprofits, and the tourism, travel, and hospitality industries; (2) providing premium pay to essential workers of local government and local employers; (3) providing assistance for government services due to revenue reductions; (4) making necessary investments in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure.
The U. S. Treasury Department will provide guidance, oversee and administer these payments to local governments and funds must be used by December 31, 2024. For more information on the American Rescue Plan Act; click here.