American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government under President Joe Biden created the American Rescue Plan to provide direct relief to Americans, contain the effects of COVID, and rebuild the economy. Municipalities across the country received financial support to assist in ongoing recovery efforts. The City of Kingston received $17.3 million in American Rescue Plan funding to support its efforts through 2026.

Although the ARPA program is set to expire December 31, 2026, Kingston is required to have funds encumbered through contract or purchase order by December 31, 2024. In federal parlance, the funds are to be "obligated" by that date. The latest information including obligations will be summarized in the City's regularly updated ARPA Spending Plan Report by February 2025.

Kingston's ARPA fund has been managed by Kingston resident and former Common Council Majority Leader and Finance/Audit Committee Chair Bill Reynolds, who was appointed by Mayor Steve Noble in September 2022. Reynolds is responsible for coordinating ARPA projects and expenditures, ensuring that funds are properly accounted for. Kingston’s Economic Recovery Plan, which incorporated months of community outreach and input, can be found on this page under “Documents.”

In 2021, the City hired Laberge Group to facilitate the creation of Kingston’s Economic Recovery Plan. The Plan follows all federal guidelines, incorporates extensive community input, and builds upon existing community projects, while supporting new initiatives that support recovery from the pandemic. The Plan, which was the direct result of input from the public was approved by the Kingston Common Council in April 2022.

The purposes of this page is to keep the public continually informed on Kingston's ARPA activities, as programs and projects outlined in the plan are implemented. Documents on the right hand column of this page contain documents and weblinks designed to achieve this purpose. Readers who have questions are encouraged to contact Reynolds.

Designated project areas in the Economic Recovery Plan including the following:

  1. Arts, Cultural, & Tourism Development Projects - $1,042,500
  2. Business Districts Development/Business (Re)Development Fund Projects - $1,200,000
  3. Housing Action Projects - $4,757,500
  4. Non-Profit Service Support - $1,225,000
  5. Parks & Greenways Improvement Fund - $1,250,000
  6. Public Health Projects - $2,125,000
  7. Vital Community Infrastructure Projects - $4,545,000
  8. Administration, Program Delivery, and Premium Pay - $1,555,000

According to federal guidelines, ARPA funds may be used by local governments to:

  • cover costs associated with responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency or its negative economic impacts;
  • support workers performing essential work during the emergency;
  • cover revenue losses caused by the emergency; and
  • make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.

Watch this American Rescue Plan Act Public Meeting:

During two public meetings, one of which is featured below, representatives from the City of Kingston and Laberge Group explained the Economic Recovery Plan process, identified strengths and opportunities for the City of Kingston, discussed challenges facing Kingston’s economic recovery, and solicited project ideas to advance economic recovery. Watch here in English or Spanish.

Vea la reunión en español a continuación:


Please leave us a question or comment below!


In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government under President Joe Biden created the American Rescue Plan to provide direct relief to Americans, contain the effects of COVID, and rebuild the economy. Municipalities across the country received financial support to assist in ongoing recovery efforts. The City of Kingston received $17.3 million in American Rescue Plan funding to support its efforts through 2026.

Although the ARPA program is set to expire December 31, 2026, Kingston is required to have funds encumbered through contract or purchase order by December 31, 2024. In federal parlance, the funds are to be "obligated" by that date. The latest information including obligations will be summarized in the City's regularly updated ARPA Spending Plan Report by February 2025.

Kingston's ARPA fund has been managed by Kingston resident and former Common Council Majority Leader and Finance/Audit Committee Chair Bill Reynolds, who was appointed by Mayor Steve Noble in September 2022. Reynolds is responsible for coordinating ARPA projects and expenditures, ensuring that funds are properly accounted for. Kingston’s Economic Recovery Plan, which incorporated months of community outreach and input, can be found on this page under “Documents.”

In 2021, the City hired Laberge Group to facilitate the creation of Kingston’s Economic Recovery Plan. The Plan follows all federal guidelines, incorporates extensive community input, and builds upon existing community projects, while supporting new initiatives that support recovery from the pandemic. The Plan, which was the direct result of input from the public was approved by the Kingston Common Council in April 2022.

The purposes of this page is to keep the public continually informed on Kingston's ARPA activities, as programs and projects outlined in the plan are implemented. Documents on the right hand column of this page contain documents and weblinks designed to achieve this purpose. Readers who have questions are encouraged to contact Reynolds.

Designated project areas in the Economic Recovery Plan including the following:

  1. Arts, Cultural, & Tourism Development Projects - $1,042,500
  2. Business Districts Development/Business (Re)Development Fund Projects - $1,200,000
  3. Housing Action Projects - $4,757,500
  4. Non-Profit Service Support - $1,225,000
  5. Parks & Greenways Improvement Fund - $1,250,000
  6. Public Health Projects - $2,125,000
  7. Vital Community Infrastructure Projects - $4,545,000
  8. Administration, Program Delivery, and Premium Pay - $1,555,000

According to federal guidelines, ARPA funds may be used by local governments to:

  • cover costs associated with responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency or its negative economic impacts;
  • support workers performing essential work during the emergency;
  • cover revenue losses caused by the emergency; and
  • make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.

Watch this American Rescue Plan Act Public Meeting:

During two public meetings, one of which is featured below, representatives from the City of Kingston and Laberge Group explained the Economic Recovery Plan process, identified strengths and opportunities for the City of Kingston, discussed challenges facing Kingston’s economic recovery, and solicited project ideas to advance economic recovery. Watch here in English or Spanish.

Vea la reunión en español a continuación:


Please leave us a question or comment below!


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  • Share I found this survey to be difficult to understand and fill out. I identified myself as a resident but was asked questions about my business/organization. The options and wording are not user friendly. on Facebook Share I found this survey to be difficult to understand and fill out. I identified myself as a resident but was asked questions about my business/organization. The options and wording are not user friendly. on Twitter Share I found this survey to be difficult to understand and fill out. I identified myself as a resident but was asked questions about my business/organization. The options and wording are not user friendly. on Linkedin Email I found this survey to be difficult to understand and fill out. I identified myself as a resident but was asked questions about my business/organization. The options and wording are not user friendly. link

    I found this survey to be difficult to understand and fill out. I identified myself as a resident but was asked questions about my business/organization. The options and wording are not user friendly.

    Smwenk asked about 3 years ago

    Thank you for letting us know you had difficulty with the survey. We'll definitely work on simplifying and improving how future surveys are written. 

  • Share Are you all truly educating yourself and staff on the provisions of this plan and how the resources must be spent as it relates to the HOMEOWNERS so they do not experience FORECLOSURE. Please expedite this ASAP because the US TREASURY and the Federal Government guidelines are explicitly outlined. Waiting 4 years is unacceptable and defeats the purpose why President Biden initiated these funds and I recommend your staff keep the community updated. Thus is mandatory per the provisions as outlined by the Federal Government., on Facebook Share Are you all truly educating yourself and staff on the provisions of this plan and how the resources must be spent as it relates to the HOMEOWNERS so they do not experience FORECLOSURE. Please expedite this ASAP because the US TREASURY and the Federal Government guidelines are explicitly outlined. Waiting 4 years is unacceptable and defeats the purpose why President Biden initiated these funds and I recommend your staff keep the community updated. Thus is mandatory per the provisions as outlined by the Federal Government., on Twitter Share Are you all truly educating yourself and staff on the provisions of this plan and how the resources must be spent as it relates to the HOMEOWNERS so they do not experience FORECLOSURE. Please expedite this ASAP because the US TREASURY and the Federal Government guidelines are explicitly outlined. Waiting 4 years is unacceptable and defeats the purpose why President Biden initiated these funds and I recommend your staff keep the community updated. Thus is mandatory per the provisions as outlined by the Federal Government., on Linkedin Email Are you all truly educating yourself and staff on the provisions of this plan and how the resources must be spent as it relates to the HOMEOWNERS so they do not experience FORECLOSURE. Please expedite this ASAP because the US TREASURY and the Federal Government guidelines are explicitly outlined. Waiting 4 years is unacceptable and defeats the purpose why President Biden initiated these funds and I recommend your staff keep the community updated. Thus is mandatory per the provisions as outlined by the Federal Government., link

    Are you all truly educating yourself and staff on the provisions of this plan and how the resources must be spent as it relates to the HOMEOWNERS so they do not experience FORECLOSURE. Please expedite this ASAP because the US TREASURY and the Federal Government guidelines are explicitly outlined. Waiting 4 years is unacceptable and defeats the purpose why President Biden initiated these funds and I recommend your staff keep the community updated. Thus is mandatory per the provisions as outlined by the Federal Government.,

    Jacobslive asked about 3 years ago

    Thank you for your comments and concerns about directing funds to homeowners. We're obligated to develop a spending plan that must be approved to be certain our proposed programs and projects fit with the ARPA guidelines. That said, City staff and our consultants are immersed in understanding the provisions. We expect to have a final plan ready in early 2022 and will begin implementing it right away. Thanks again. Ruth Ann

Page last updated: 10 Dec 2024, 01:30 PM