In the News
$330M available to NEPA counties, cities through American Rescue PlanTimes Leader
Wilkes-Barre, Bill O'Boyle,
May 11, 2021
U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright Tuesday said the region counts on local governments for essential services like police, fire, emergency response, garbage collection, street cleaning and so much more. Cartwright welcomed the U.S. Treasury Department’s launch of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, which allocate $330 million for the counties and larger cities that comprise the 8th Congressional District to keep public employees on payroll and maintain essential services. Cartwright, D-Moosic, said these funds were authorized by the American Rescue Plan that passed in March. He said entities can now apply for these funds through the Treasury website. “Local officials and the front line heroes who do these jobs worked hard to maintain these services as best they could so that they were there for us amid the uncertainty of last year,” Cartwright said. “I’m proud that we are able to support them through the American Rescue Plan.” Relief from the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund for Counties and Cities: County allocations Luzerne, $112,890,152 Total — $207,506,530 Metro cities allocations Scranton, $68,746,050 Total — $123,034,760 Cartwright said Pennsylvania is eligible for $7.29 billion from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund. Millions more will also be distributed to the state government to pass on to boroughs, townships and smaller cities — the Treasury Department expects to provide further guidance on these distributions in the coming days. The Treasury Department says local governments will receive funds in two tranches, with 50 percent provided beginning in May 2021, and the balance delivered approximately 12 months later. States that have experienced a net increase in the unemployment rate of more than 2 percentage points from February 2020, to the latest available data as of the date of certification will receive their full allocation of funds in a single payment. Other states will receive funds in two equal tranches. Governments of U.S. territories will receive a single payment. Tribal governments will receive two payments, with the first payment available in May and the second payment, based on employment data, to be delivered in June 2021. |