Accessing Recovery

The American Rescue Plan (ARP), signed into law on March 11, 2021, is a massive, $1.9 trillion dollar plan to help steer the nation’s recovery from pandemic impacts across a variety of terrains: housing, education, healthcare, and, most importantly for Main Street communities, additional small business relief and significant funding to states, counties and cities.

We believe that Main Street revitalization is a key priority for local recovery. And we aim to help every community understand how to utilize the ARP, particularly state and local funding to help build a stronger, healthier commercial district. On this page, find tools and resources to dive into the potential for this funding. We will update this page as new resources or opportunities become available.

The ARP offers $350 billion to states, counties, and local governments, guaranteeing funding to all 19,000 municipalities in the country. For many communities, this funding is urgently needed to fill budget shortfalls. For many, the funding will exceed the direct impacts of the pandemic to local budgets; it represents one of the most transformational opportunities for communities in decades. States, counties and cities will be looking to plan strategic investments based on community-driven priorities.

• Funding will be allocated in two tranches. The first tranche is available to communities. The second tranche in anticipated in May 2022.
• All 19,000 municipalities in the U.S. receive funding. Click here to learn the allocated or estimated amount of funding for your city.
• Cities below 50,000 population receive their allocation through their state. Cities over 50,000 in population receive funding directly from the Treasury.
• Treasury released the Interim Final Rule on May 10, 2021, providing guidance on eligible uses and requirements. Main Street America submitted comments seeking clarification on guidance for business district uses. Further guidance is anticipated this fall.

Be at the table. Develop local strategies that include Main Street priorities and the voice of district stakeholders. Municipalities and counties may be forming or reorganizing response task forces as decision-making and strategy development bodies for ARP funding. Main Street organizations should be positioned as a recovery partner to advocate for district needs as planning efforts coalesce.

Advocate. Speak up for direct programmatic support to fill Main Street budget gaps. Main Street organizations may look to this funding as a possible source to cover budget shortfalls experienced as a result of the pandemic. While rule writing has not been completed yet, it would seem clear that funds may be passed through to non-profit entities and that local economic recovery is a key use of these funds.

Be prepared. Come with ideas to deploy ARP funding in support of Main Street projects aimed at economic recovery. While guidance is still forthcoming, the broad potential use of these funds will enable communities to innovate in support of small businesses and district revitalization. Main Street programs should connect downtown stakeholder needs with local priorities to identify key projects that support economic recovery.

Tell us what you're hearing! We are interested in understanding how ARP funding is being discussed and deployed in your community. Use this form to share with us.