Coronavirus Relief for Communities: APA Breaks It Down

President Trump has signed into law the mammoth coronavirus relief package that will provide immediate relief to local governments in need of support.

Now that the CARES Act is officially law, we are highlighting what we know is in it — including major funding injections for state and local governments — that planners will need to help their communities weather and recover from this crisis.

Planning is essential in this time of unprecedented need. It will be especially critical in the weeks and months to come to guide the application of this funding to have the most impact on the future health, safety, and stability of their communities.

On Thursday, March 26, APA Policy Director Jason Jordan held a rapid-response legislative briefing to help planners understand what’s in the bill. Download the slides or watch the briefing in its entirety here:

We are also breaking down the critical planning-related portions of the bill on Twitter. Be sure to follow @APAAdvocates for additional updates and information as it becomes available.

The U.S. House of Representatives is preparing to vote on the CARES Act, which will provide communities with immediate #Coronavirus relief. Here's everything planners need to know. #CARESact

thread below👇🏼 (1/16)

— APAadvocates (@APAadvocates) March 27, 2020

#Housing security is addressed through new funding for critical block grants, housing voucher, and housing assistance programs. Provisions include $5 billion for Community Development Block Grants. #CDBG (2/16)

— APAadvocates (@APAadvocates) March 27, 2020

$5 billion for Community Development Block Grants (#CDBG). $2 billion to entitlement communities, $1 billion to the states, $2 bill for @HUDgov targeting to most heavily affected areas. (3/16)

— APAadvocates (@APAadvocates) March 27, 2020

#CDBG funding suspends cap on public service activities and allows for virtual public hearings. Local social services also aided by $1 billion from @HHSGov in block grant funding. (4/16)

— APAadvocates (@APAadvocates) March 27, 2020

Critical support for immediate #housing security needs with $4 billion for homeless assistance grants, $1.25 billion for Tenant Based Rental Assistance, $1 billion for Project Based Rental Assistance, $685 million for public housing operating funds. (5/16)

— APAadvocates (@APAadvocates) March 27, 2020

10% of the homeless assistance funding can be used for local government administrative costs and public engagement requirements are suspended. (6/16)

— APAadvocates (@APAadvocates) March 27, 2020

Access and mobility services for communities are supported by $25 billion in emergency support for #transit, $10 billion in emergency aid for airports and $1 billion for @Amtrak and intercity rail. (7/16)

— APAadvocates (@APAadvocates) March 27, 2020

$25 billion in emergency assistance for public #transportation agencies. Funds will be provided immediately through existing urban and rural area formula programs. Importantly, these funds can be used of operations and maintenance expenses. (8/16)

— APAadvocates (@APAadvocates) March 27, 2020

The bill aims to provide fiscal stability to local governments with a major new $150 billion relief fund for state and local governments and liquidity support for local governments and the municipal bond market. (9/16)

— APAadvocates (@APAadvocates) March 27, 2020

The relief fund sets aside $139 billion for the 50 states, $8 billion for tribal governments, and $3 billion would be reserved for the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. (10/16)

— APAadvocates (@APAadvocates) March 27, 2020

Funds distributed proportional to population with no state receiving less than $1.25 billion. Localities above 500,000 can apply for direct funding. (11/16)

— APAadvocates (@APAadvocates) March 27, 2020

Broad eligibility for use of the relief funds covering un-budgeted #COVID19 related costs from March through December. (12/16)

— APAadvocates (@APAadvocates) March 27, 2020

Support for #economicdevelopment and adjustment, particularly for communities with vulnerable key industries, provided with $1.5 billion in Economic Development Administration funding. (13/16)

— APAadvocates (@APAadvocates) March 27, 2020

Support provided for non-profits and private sector planning firms with less than 500 employees. New Payroll Protection Program provides immediate loan for payroll and other expenses. (14/16)

— APAadvocates (@APAadvocates) March 27, 2020

If organizations maintain staffing, 8 weeks of funding paid for the federal government through full loan forgiveness. (15/16)

— APAadvocates (@APAadvocates) March 27, 2020

For more information tune in to yesterday's briefing, APA Rapid-Response to #Coronavirus Congressional Relief Package. (16/16)https://t.co/HT77DYXPzx

— APAadvocates (@APAadvocates) March 27, 2020