Capital Project Funds
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) (Public Law 117-2) is an economic stimulus bill passed by Congress in March 2021 to speed the country’s recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under ARPA, the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund (CPF) provides funding to eligible state, territories, and Tribal governments to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency and its negative economic impacts. These funds are helping to ensure that all communities have access to high-quality modern infrastructure, including broadband, needed to access critical services.
North Carolina’s allocation for Capital Projects Funds from the U.S. Department of the Treasury is just over $273 million. Session Law 2021-180 appropriates this funding for broadband infrastructure projects under the GREAT Grant Program, administered by the Broadband Infrastructure Office. Programs must comply with legislation outlined in SL 2021-180, but also with the federal rules outlined by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The Guidance for the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund for States, Territories and Freely Associated States was released by the U.S. Treasury on Sept. 20, 2021.