Pennsylvania Utilizes $13B Pandemic Relief for Health Initiatives

According to the Harrisburg Patriot-News, Pennsylvania and its local governments are on track to utilize nearly all of the $13 billion in federal pandemic relief funding by the end of 2026. This initiative is part of the U.S.

Treasury's State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds program, which allocated a total of $350 billion to various levels of government across the country through the American Rescue Plan Act. The latest update from the Treasury, published in August, highlights that 2,548 out of 2,556 government entities in Pennsylvania reported their spending of this relief funding.

Collectively, these entities received approximately $13.4 billion. Notably, the state of Pennsylvania itself received the largest share at $7.3 billion. The state has already obligated all of its funds, with 92 percent of that total, equating to $6.7 billion, already spent.

The remaining allocation is minimal, with only about nine million dollars unallocated. The funding aims to address various needs, including supplementing lost revenue due to the pandemic, enhancing public health and safety services, supporting local businesses, and improving infrastructure.

The report indicates that Philadelphia, Allegheny County, and Pittsburgh also fully obligated their ARPA funding. Importantly, the U.S. Treasury mandates that these funds must be committed to specific projects by the end of 2024, or they must be returned.

Each recipient is required to submit project and expenditure reports, which detail how the funds are being utilized, and these are available for public review. The relief funding is seen as a crucial resource for managing ongoing health challenges linked to COVID-19, allowing local governments to implement necessary health initiatives and recover economically.

Spotlight PA has previously provided guidance on how to track ARPA spending within local communities, emphasizing transparency in the use of these funds. As Pennsylvania approaches the deadline for spending this relief money, it signifies a focused effort to enhance public health infrastructure and services in response to the pandemic's lasting impacts.