Guide to Local Recovery Updates

The League of California Cities is actively involved in gathering, deciphering, and providing cities with the resources they need to access pandemic relief funds, understand eligible uses for those funds, and comply with reporting requirements. Visit the Guide to Local Recovery resource page to explore the resources available to cities.

Guide to Local Recovery update: June 16
Cal Cities, along with a team of city finance professionals and the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO), created a revenue loss calculation tool to help cities determine their American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation spends. The tool incorporates the latest Treasury Department’s Guidance and its applicability to local government finance in California as understood by our team of finance professionals. Two versions of the calculator have been prepared to support cities’ choice to use fund basis (modified accrual) or government-wide (full accrual) financial records. 

• Revenue Loss Calculator (Government-wide - Full Accrual)
• Revenue Loss Calculator (Fund Basis - Modified Accrual) 

The calculator will be updated and improve as Treasury Department guidance evolves. Cities will be able to calculate revenue at multiple points throughout the program. 

Guide to Local Recovery Update: June 11
Gov. Gavin Newsom took executive action on June 11 to terminate the state’s stay-at-home order and tiered Blueprint for Safer Economy. Measures that were included in the blueprint to protect public health, such as physical distancing, capacity limits, and the county tier system, terminate on June 15. The Governor also issued an executive order to begin the “winding down” of the 58 executive orders that have been implemented since the beginning of the pandemic. The provisions will sunset in phases, beginning later this month through September.

The California Department of Finance (DOF) American Rescue Plan Request for Funds Portal for non-entitlement cities is now live. Cities categorized as non-entitlement cities (NEU) must access this portal to receive their first tranche of funds. All applications are due no later than 11:59 p.m. on June 23, 2021. DOF discussed the funding portal with city officials during a League of California Cities webinar earlier this week. The webinar included a robust Q & A and is available for review, along with the presentation slides.

Guide to Local Recovery Update: June 9
The California Department of Finance (DOF) unveiled its American Rescue Plan Local Fiscal Recovery Fund  webpage for non-entitlement cities and discussed the upcoming funding portal with city officials during a League of California Cities webinar earlier today. The program covered the state’s responsibilities, eligible usages, the application and distribution process, reporting requirements, and the portal itself. The webinar included a robust Q & A and is available for review, along with the presentation slides.  

Guide to Local Recovery Update: June 2 
The California Department of Finance (DOF) has released the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund allocations for non-entitlement cities, and is preparing to distribute over $1.2 billion in American Rescue Plan payments to 291 California non-entitlement cities. Register now for the next Guide to Local Recovery webinar on June 9 from 9:30-10:30 a.m., where  experts from DOF will provide information about how cities can navigate the state’s submission portal, when cities can expect funding, as well as answer any general American Rescue Plan questions. 

Guide to Local Recovery Update: May 26
Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released guidance on the distribution of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to non-entitlement cities. These guidelines were issued to assist the California Department of Finance (DOF) in issuing final city-by-city allocations and to help develop the process for distributing non-entitlement city funds. The League of California Cities has been in communication with DOF to determine the timing of the release of the final allocations and the distribution process, and will be hosting a webinar with DOF in the coming weeks. 

Guide to Local Recovery Update: May 19
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has launched its own American Rescue Plan information hub, which includes a Fiscal Recovery Funds FAQ and the interim final rule. The FAQ will be updated periodically in response to stakeholder questions. The White House and the Treasury Department will also address the interim rule during an NLC-hosted webinar and Q & A on May 20 at 1 p.m. PST. We also hosted a webinar on the American Rescue Plan for more than 400 city officials today. Representatives from the National League of Cities discussed eligible uses for entitlement cities. The webinar recording and slides are available for those who missed it. 

Guide to Local Recovery Update: May 12
The portal for local governments that will receive their money directly from the U.S. Department of the Treasury is now live. This portal is for cities classified as Metropolitan Cities under the American Rescue Plan. Local governments designated as non-entitlement units are also eligible to receive Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, as provided in the American Rescue Plan. However, they will receive this funding from their applicable state government, not through this link. 

Guide to Local Recovery Update: May 10
The  U.S. Department of the Treasury released guidance May 10 on the distribution of $8 billion for California cities in the American Rescue Plan Act. To learn more, sign up for Cal Cities Legislative Action Days May 13, where Cal Cities will provide an overview of the new guidance. Be sure to  check the new resources added to the Federal Guidance and Resources tab below to read the new guidelines and access the final city-by-city allocations. 
U.S. Department of the Treasury now has a website where people can learn more about COVID-19 economic relief, programs, and assistance for state, local, and tribal governments. 

The California COVID-19 Rent Relief program has funds to distribute, and is urging California city governments to share this resource with impacted individuals in their communities. Landlords who participate in the program can get reimbursed for 80 percent of an eligible renter’s unpaid rent, and eligible renters whose landlords choose not to participate in the program may apply on their own and receive 25 percent of unpaid rent between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021. Paying 25 percent by June 30, 2021 can help keep the tenant in their home under the extended eviction protections in SB 91 (2021). Visit the Housing is Key website to learn more.

Guide to Local Recovery Update: May 5
U.S. Department of the Treasury now has a website where people can learn more about COVID-19 economic relief, programs, and assistance for state, local, and tribal governments. The California COVID-19 Rent Relief program has funds to distribute, and is urging California city governments to share this resource with impacted individuals in their communities. Landlords who participate in the program can get reimbursed for 80 percent of an eligible renter’s unpaid rent, and eligible renters whose landlords choose not to participate in the program may apply on their own and receive 25 percent of unpaid rent between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021. Paying 25 percent by June 30, 2021 can help keep the tenant in their home under the extended eviction protections in SB 91 (2021). Visit the Housing is Key website to learn more.

Guide to Local Recovery Update: April 28
Today, the League of California Cities hosted the latest installment of its new Guide to Local Recovery webinar series, focused on Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) cost reimbursement for eligible programs and services under FEMA’s Public Assistance Program. The webinar featured leaders with representatives from FEMA and the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to provide an opportunity to ask questions and get clarity on reimbursable costs. The webinar recording and slides are available online. Next week, the White House is hosting regional briefings on the American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan, and the briefing for California is Monday, May 3 at 2 p.m. All cities are invited to attend, and the briefing will be hosted by Daniel Hornung, special assistant to the president for Economic Policy. Register for the briefing.  

Guide to Local Recovery Update: April 21
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has released new steps that all cities need to take to receive their city allocation under the local relief included in the American Rescue Plan. The rescue plan was signed into law in March 2021, and includes $65 billion in much-needed direct and flexible relief for every city in the country, with an anticipated $8.3 billion for California cities. While the Treasury Department has not released the final city allocations, you can find city-by-city estimates on the National League of Cities website. 

Guide to Local Recovery Update: April 14
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) published this week a Notice of Funding Opportunity to apply for $1 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 discretionary grant funding through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants. Projects for RAISE funding will be evaluated based on merit criteria that include safety, environmental sustainability, quality of life, economic competitiveness, state of good repair, innovation, and partnership. Within these criteria, the Department will prioritize projects that can demonstrate improvements to racial equity, reduce impacts of climate change, and create good-paying jobs.To provide technical assistance to prospective applicants, DOT is hosting a series of webinars during the FY 2021 RAISE grant application process. The deadline to submit an application is July 12, 2021 at 5 p.m. EST. On April 12, the White House released state-by-state fact sheets that highlight the urgent need in every state across the country for the investments outlined in the new federal infrastructure proposal. The fact sheet for California can be found on the White House website.

Guide to Local recovery update: April 7
As cities await final guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury on the allocation amounts and reporting process for the local relief included in the American Rescue Plan, now is the time for cities to begin identifying their priorities and developing a system to track and report the funds. The sooner priorities for local recovery are identified, the faster people can get back to work, operations can be stabilized, and those most impacted by COVID-19 can receive support. The National League of Cities frequently asked questions about the American Rescue Plan local relief can help cities prepare while we await official guidance.  

Guide to Local Recovery Update: March 31
The Biden Administration announced a federal infrastructure plan, which outlines more than $2 trillion in federal investments to rebuild and expand infrastructure in our cities and towns across the nation. Cal Cities is encouraged by the proposal, as repairing and modernizing aging infrastructure is key to economic recovery and more jobs in our cities and nation. We look forward to sharing more details on the plan as they become available. 

Local recovery update: March 24
The passage of the historic American Rescue Plan means over $65 billion will be delivered directly to cities of all size. Now the real work begins. What are your local priorities for this funding? The National League of Cities (NLC) is conducting a short survey to gauge how conditions, from the economy and infrastructure to housing and education, have changed this past year, and how new funding will be used to address these challenges. The results will be part of NLC's research efforts to showcase local leadership during the pandemic. They will also shape the type of strategies and programs NLC is developing to help communities leverage newly available funds. Make your voice count and participate in the survey! Please respond no later than Tuesday, March 30.

Guide to Local Recovery Update: March 17
As city officials begin to put the unprecedented local relief from the American Rescue Plan into action to continue critical services and jumpstart recovery in their communities, Cal Cities is here to answer questions and support your efforts with tools and resources. For more information on the American Rescue Plan and what’s in it for cities, read Cal Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman’s message to city officials. and review the Cal Cities special briefing for city officials. The National League of Cities has provided an American Recue Plan implementation update, which includes the latest on recovery priorities, relief funds, and bill summaries. Also, the White House has created a fact sheet for the American Rescue Plan, as well as a summary of its impact on California. These are first of many resources in our guide to local recovery that we will be offering in the coming weeks and months.