Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy, the Albany County Legislature and Albany County Comptroller Susan Rizzo today released the initial draft of the County’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Investment Plan that will be used to direct funds toward continuing our recovery from the damage caused by the COVID pandemic and economic shutdown. County leaders are seeking public input on the funding priorities set forth in the spending plan through a new investment plan survey, a “create your own ARPA budget” tool, and a series of public meetings. The $29.4 million included in the second tranche of Federal ARPA moneys will be divided into three main categories: Community Development and Public Health, Economic Recovery and Growth, and finally, County Infrastructure and Workforce.

The unveiling of the spending outline follows a public engagement survey that was released in October of 2022. The County received 1,591 responses to the survey, which shaped the current draft of the County Investment Plan. According to those responses, the top three populations identified as those most negatively impacted by the pandemic were (in order): Front-line and/or essential workers, families with school-aged children and small businesses. When asked about the importance of eight different ARPA eligible funding priorities, respondents prioritized community health and wellness, homeless and housing services, and public infrastructure.

“I’m happy to say that we received the feedback of nearly 1,600 Albany County residents on how we should utilize this $29.4 million in ARPA funds towards our continued recovery. Their input and the responses we receive on this latest survey will now help guide our decisions and ensure those disproportionately impacted by the pandemic receive needed assistance,” said Albany County Executive McCoy. “This funding will not only be used for immediate relief, but also for long-term, transformative investments that will continue to pay dividends further down the road. I want to thank the members of our ARPA committees and county leadership for their partnership throughout this process.”

The Investment Plan can be viewed online by visiting Albany County’s ARPA Portal found at the link here. The portal will also have full copies of the plan available for download and physical copies can be obtained at the Harold L. Joyce Albany County Office Building at 112 State St, Albany, NY 12207. Through March 31, Albany County residents and stakeholders can provide feedback on the plan either by completing an Investment Plan survey, developing their own sample ARPA budget, or by attending a public meeting virtually or in person. Click here to learn more about these options to provide feedback. Physical copies of the survey can be picked up and dropped off at the Albany County Office Building. Public meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, March 21 at 5:30 p.m. and Monday, March 27 at 12 p.m. in the Cahill Room of the Albany County Office Building. 

In April of this year, the County will launch a request for applications focused on Economic Recovery and Growth, which will include grants supporting small businesses, workforce development, tourism, addressing blighted properties and more. The grant recipients will be announced in late spring. Those awards will be followed by a request for applications focused on Community Development and Public Health. This second application will include grants supporting behavioral health, substance abuse and telehealth; affordable housing and housing support; youth and senior services; food access; and more. Awards for those grant applications will be released in the summer of this year. 

Included in the $29.4 million of ARPA funding is a proposed $12.2 million designated to improve County infrastructure and the delivery of services to residents, as well as the creation of new programs. Projects in this category will include upgrades to wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, broadband access, county IT capabilities, workforce retention and attraction, parks and open space, and county public health and mental health initiatives.

"As a member of the ARPA Executive Committee, I am proud that the process we have taken to get to this point has been deliberate and set with the intention to garner public feedback and use it to guide our investments," said Albany County Legislature Chairman Andrew Joyce. "The County’s Strategic Investment Plan serves to provide the rationale behind the identified funding categories, which prioritizes sectors and populations hardest hit by the pandemic as well as historically underserved communities. Investments in economic growth, public health, community development, and County infrastructure expenditures will lay the foundations for success in the years to come. I am proud of the work done by members of the Albany County Legislature, who, in collaboration with trusted community members and businesses, are serving on ARPA subcommittees to help map out this funding. We encourage all Albany County residents to review the plan and provide any recommendations to ensure we maximize the effect of these ARPA funds as we move to distribute funding this spring."

“We have been given an historic opportunity to achieve fiscally responsible and transformational objectives in the areas of economic recovery and growth, county infrastructure and workforce, as well as community development and public health.  This Investment Plan creates the framework needed to meet the County’s immediate needs while also providing long-term investment for the future.  This is the perfect example of what can be accomplished when County representatives and public stakeholders, listening to community input, work together to achieve shared goals for all of Albany County’s residents.  As a member of the Executive Committee, and working with all involved, I am proud of our work to date and encourage members of the community to make their voices heard as this process continues,” said Albany County Comptroller Susan Rizzo.

“When the American Rescue Plan Act was adopted, it presented a unique opportunity for our County to not only come back from a once-in-a-century pandemic, but also to invest in and shape the future of our County. As Democratic Majority Leader, I am proud of the hard work our members have contributed to allocate and invest these funds throughout Albany County. I am thankful for the strong partnership we have, not only with Legislative Chairman Joyce, but also with County Executive McCoy and Comptroller Rizzo. We are now again seeking public input on how these funds should be spent, and I encourage residents and businesses to spread the word and participate in this process. Working together, we can create a future we can all be proud of,” said Albany County Legislature Majority Leader Dennis Feeney.

“I eagerly await the formal release of the Strategic Investment Plan for ARPA's second tranche. The document will illustrate to community members the County's commitment to uphold the highest level of transparency while addressing the long-term repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic. This document, I believe, accomplishes exactly that,” said Albany County Legislative Black Caucus Chairman William Clay.

“It’s vital that we use the Federal dollars received from ARPA responsibly, and I appreciate the hard work that County staff and my colleagues put in to develop this spend plan,” said Albany County Legislature Minority Leader Frank Mauriello. “I look forward to a robust process of public engagement that will help guide the County in implementing the plan. This is a critical step towards ensuring a fair and transparent grant award process.”

ARPA funds must be obligated no later than December 31, 2024, and fully expended by December 31, 2026. Funds that are not fully spent by December 31, 2026 are required to be returned to the United States Treasury.