Pennsylvania has $2 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and Democrat Gov. Tom Wolf has ideas on how to spend $1.7 billion of it, but first, his plan needs legislative approval.
ARPA funding was sent to state and local governments to help economic recovery efforts in response to the pandemic. It must be committed to spending by Dec. 31, 2024 or sent back to the federal government.
Under Wolf’s plan, households earning $80,000 or less would get direct payment of up to $2,000 through the PA Opportunity Program. He would spend $500 million on this, plus, $225 million in support for small businesses, $204 million for direct property tax relief, $325 million for Pennsylvania’s health care system, and $450 million to invest in conservation, preservation, and revitalization of Pennsylvania communities.
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