ARPA - REPRESENTATIVE ALICE H. PEISCH

The Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
On December 13th, 2022, Governor Baker signed the Federal COVID-19 Relief Funding Spending Bill, which appropriates some of the funds the state received through the Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provided approximately $8.7 billion to Massachusetts through the new Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. This federal aid is intended to support urgent COVID-19 response efforts, replace lost revenue, support immediate economic stabilization for households and businesses, and address unequal public health and economic challenges in Massachusetts cities and towns.
Language excluding federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) advances, Shuttered Venue Operators grants, Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants, and SBA loans from taxable income for individual taxpayers for all applicable tax years, creating parity with corporate taxpayers, is also included.

Highlights of ARPA:
Housing

$150 million to finance the statewide production of housing for various populations, including seniors and veterans;
$150 million for public housing maintenance;
$115 million for rental housing production and to provide increased housing options to residents of disproportionately impacted communities;
$115 million to support housing production in disproportionately impacted communities through MassHousing’s CommonWealth Builder Program and similar efforts;
$65 million to support expanded homeownership opportunities, focused on first-time homebuyers who are residents of disproportionately impacted communities.

Health Care

$400 million for addiction treatment and related behavioral health services, workforce, and infrastructure;
$260 million for fiscally stressed hospitals in disproportionately impacted municipalities;
$200 million for local and regional public health, including local boards of health staffing, technology, and training;
$50 million for workforce retention and capital improvements at nursing facilities and $30 million to support loan repayment, retention, and recruitment programs for human service workers;
$37.5 million for grants to reduce juvenile delinquency, youth homelessness, and summer jobs.

Workforce Development

$500 million to support the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund;
$500 million for premium pay for low-income essential workers;
$107.5 million for workforce and career technical skills training;
$24.5 million for workforce development and capital grants to YMCAs and Boys & Girls clubs.

Economic Development

$135 million to support cultural facilities and tourism assets throughout Massachusetts;
$75 million for grants to small businesses, $50 million of which will go tobusinesses reaching underserved markets and minority, women, and veteran owned businesses. $25 million will be reserved for small businesses that did not qualify for prior programs.

Infrastructure Investment

$100 million to fund grants for water and sewer infrastructure improvements;
$100 million to improve culverts, dams, and other environmental infrastructure;
$90 million for marine port development;
$50 million to close the digital divide and increase broadband internet access;
$44.8 million for food security;
$25 million for greening gateway cities.

Education

$105 million for a variety of education supports, including recovery grants to state universities and community colleges, workforce support for special education schools, and support for recruiting educators of color;
$100 million for public school district HVAC grants;
$100 million for capital grants to vocational high schools and career technical education programs.

​Office of Representative​Alice H. Peisch

Office of Representative
Alice H. Peisch