ARPA

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”), Pub. L. No. 117-2. This fund is administered by the US Department of the Treasury (hereafter, “US Treasury” or “Treasury”). The ARPA provides an estimated $1.9 trillion in stimulus to aid in the COVID-19 pandemic. Within the ARPA, the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund provides $350 billion for states, municipalities, counties, tribes, and territories, including $130 billion for local governments split evenly between municipalities and counties.
 
The City of Medford is a HUD entitlement city with a population of over 57,000 people. Therefore, the city is considered a metropolitan city for funding. The City was awarded $37,409,525 as a metropolitan city. In addition, since the City is located in Middlesex County with no direct county government, the City will receive funding split between the municipalities located in the county, with the share based on the population. The City of Medford will receive $11,058,000 for Middlesex County, bringing the grand total of ARPA funding to $48,467,525.
 
Since the City of Medford is a metropolitan city, the City will receive the ARPA funds directly from the US Treasury. Funding will be released to state and local governments by the Treasury in two tranches. Half the funding each city is entitled to will be released under the first tranche beginning May 10, 2021; and the second half of funds will be released under the second tranche one year after the disbursement of the first tranche. The City of Medford received the first tranche on May 19, 2021 in the amount of $18,704,762.50 as notified by the US Treasury. On August 17th, 2021 the City of Medford received its first allotment from the Middlesex county funds, $5,568,908.52. Currently, ARPA funds are being spent on the ongoing public health emergency, administration, health department needs, and water infrastructure projects.