Courtesy photo.
Coconino County (on March 10) applauded the passage of the America Rescue Plan (ARP) and praised the leadership of Representative Tom O’Halleran and Senators Krysten Sinema and Mark Kelly for fighting for rural northern Arizona priorities in the federal relief bill. The America Rescue Plan passed the Senate this past weekend and the House of Representatives today.
“The America Rescue Plan is largest relief and stimulus package that Coconino County has ever directly benefitted from. The County will look to prioritize the needs of our local economy and residents with this much-needed federal relief. We all owe a huge thank you to Representative O’Halleran and Senators Sinema and Kelly for listening to the needs of the County as we combat the pandemic and providing leadership to get relief from Washington flowing to Coconino County,” Chairman Matt Ryan stated.
The ARP will provide Coconino County approximately $28 million dollars over the next two years in direct and flexible funding to dedicate towards the local economy and relief efforts. Cities and towns in Coconino County will also receive sizable direct payments, totaling over $20 million dollars for the same purposes.
The ARP will also provide the State of Arizona an estimated 1.1 billion for COVID-19 vaccine, testing, contact tracing, and mitigation funding as well as over $787 million dollars for housing funding, including rent and mortgage payment assistance, according to figures from the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. The additional funds are expected to flow through the state to the County and region to meet the public health and social service needs of residents.
President Biden is expected to sign the package into law this week. The Board of Supervisors will outline potential relief efforts in the County in the future. Individuals seeking information regarding rental and utility assistance can contact Coconino County Health and Human Services at 928-679-7453.