On March 11, 2021 the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) was signed into law.

Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2, §9901) added section 603(a) to the Social Security Act (“ARPA”), which created the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund for the purpose of providing funds to local governments in  order to facilitate the ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic (“Fiscal Recovery Funds”). Following the enactment of ARPA, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“Treasury” or “Secretary”) released formal and informal guidance regarding implementation of ARPA, including the disbursement and expenditure of Fiscal Recovery Funds, including Treasury Interim Final Rule, 31 CFR pt. 35, 2021, attending rule guidance published in the Federal Register, Volume 86, No 93,1, and informal guidance made publicly available by Treasury, which may be amended, superseded, or replaced during the term of this Agreement (“Treasury Guidance”).

ARPA allocated $7,105,927,713.00 for making payments to metropolitan cities, non-entitlement units of local government, and counties in Florida, 21% of which is to be paid directly to metropolitan cities in Florida, 59% of which was paid directly to counties in Florida, and 20% of which is to be paid to the State of Florida for distribution to non-entitlement units of local government. The Secretary disbursed $5,689,502,590.00 of these funds directly to metropolitan cities and counties. A remaining balance of $1,416,425,123.00 was reserved for the State of Florida to disburse to non-entitlement units of local government.

The State of Florida, Division of Emergency Management (Division) has received these funds from the Secretary through the State of Florida in accordance with the provisions of ARPA. Pursuant to the provisions of ARPA, the Division is the state entity responsible for disbursing the funds to the Recipient under this Agreement.