American Rescue Plan to send $106.67 million to Atlantic County and its municipalities

U.S. Treasury

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In addition to $1,400 checks for qualified Americans, federal officials have announced that Atlantic County will receive $55.14 million and its municipalities, $55.5 million as part of the American Rescue Plan.

U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez (both D-N.J.) March 10 released a county-by-county and town-by-town breakdown of the $10.189 billion in direct, flexible, federal assistance to state and local governments allocated to New Jersey in the American Rescue Plan.

The $1.9 trillion COVID relief package contains $360 billion in state and local aid to help keep essential workers on the job, assist struggling families and small businesses, and make critical investments in infrastructure. The State of New Jersey will receive approximately $6.434 billion, plus another $189 million to expand broadband internet across the state.  An additional $1.823 billion will be split among the 21 county governments and $1.741 billion divided among all 565 cities and municipalities.

With state and local governments across our country facing the painful decisions of potentially laying off thousands of police officers, firefighters, teachers, and other essential workers, and cutting essential services, the full support of our federal government has never been more important to fight this pandemic," Booker said in a release.

Our state and local governments have been on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19.  They have been bleeding resources for over a year while costs have soared and revenues have plummeted. As a result, they have borne the brunt of the economic pain and desperately need help, Menendez said. This badly needed federal funding will not just keep the lights on at City Hall, it will also help our communities get more vaccines in people's arms, keep our first responders, teachers and other essential workers on the job, maintain our infrastructure and critical services, help our small businesses stay afloat, and put us on a smoother path towards economic recovery after the pandemic. This was a long and hard-fought battle, but I am pleased to be able to deliver in this COVID relief package billions in direct, flexible federal assistance to each and every corner of New Jersey.

The direct, flexible funding can be used by state and local governments to pay COVID-related expenses; cover lost revenues due to the pandemic to maintain critical services and avoid layoffs of essential workers; provide additional assistance to residents and small businesses; and invest in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.

The county and municipalities will receive 50% of the funds within 60 days, and the remainder in 2022.

New Jersey will receive the eighth largest pot of federal money compared to other states, about $1 billion more than it would receive had the formula been based entirely on population.  The formula allocates virtually all of the funding dedicated to state governments based on the number of unemployed persons in each state compared to the overall U.S. population to determine need.

Below is a breakdown of the $10.189 billion in state and local funding for New Jersey:

STATE OF NEW JERSEY $6,434,000,000

• Plus $189 million allocated to expand broadband internet

Atlantic County Government: $51.14 million

Total to Municipalities: $55,533,358.22