State Fiscal Recovery 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 State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) have provided funding to eligible state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency and its negative economic impacts. These funds cover a range of eligible uses including investments in broadband infrastructure. State Fiscal Recovery Funds (SFRF) required appropriation by the N.C. General Assembly.
Session Law 2021-180 appropriates almost $663 million in SFRF funding for broadband infrastructure projects and $50 million for digital literacy efforts. These programs will be administered by the Broadband Infrastructure Office and the Office of Digital Equity and Literacy, within NCDIT’s Division of Broadband and Digital Equity. 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 Final Rule for the Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds was released by the U.S. Treasury on Jan. 6.