American Rescue Plan provides public infrastructure improvement opportunities

For those of us working to improve roads, water, sewer and the quality of life for all, it's an exciting time.

After the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) passed on March 11, more than 19,000 municipalities in the U.S. will get money to make critical investments in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure. While the $195.3 billion allocated to state and local governments includes funding for a wide variety of community services and resources affected by COVID-19, municipalities can also use the funds to make extraordinary headway when it comes to improving public infrastructure.

» Water treatment, transmission and distribution (including lead service line replacement).
» Source rehabilitation and decontamination.
» Water storage.
» Water system consolidation.
» New systems development.
» Construction of publicly owned treatment works.
» Nonpoint source pollution management.
» National estuary program projects.
» Decentralized wastewater treatment systems.
» Stormwater systems.
» Water conservation, efficiency and reuse measures.
» Watershed pilot projects.
» Energy efficiency measures for publicly owned treatment works.
» Water reuse projects.
» Security measures at publicly owned treatment works. 

This might lead you to ask if your specific public infrastructure project is eligible for ARPA funding. Fehr Graham has a team of experts who will help plan and prioritize your needs to ensure they follow the ARPA guidelines. The good news is the Interim Final Rule provided by the United States Treasury Department gives each municipality the flexibility to determine the highest priority needs for their communities. 

If lack of funding is the reason your community is putting off infrastructure improvements, now is the time for action. Every day, we help communities figure out how to move projects forward and make infrastructure improvements a reality.

Fehr Graham can help answer your questions, navigate guidelines or establish an ordinance to move your project forward. Contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 815.235.7643.

Fehr Graham Senior Community Development Specialist Bridgette Stocks
serves as the principal contact for all funding-related programs.
She works with municipalities and state and federal agencies to obtain
critical funding. She has secured more than $200 million for clients.