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ARPA in Vermont

What is the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)?

Congress passed ARPA earlier this year to address economic impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This national plan commits $1.9 trillion in APRA funds to address the public health and economic crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. ARPA includes money to invest in broadband, water and sewer infrastructure, and assistance for economically disadvantaged communities to help protect them from future crises or to remediate impacts caused by the pandemic.

ARPA in Vermont

The State of Vermont will receive more than $2.7 billion in ARPA funds for projects related to the pandemic. More than half of these dollars are directly appropriated to federal agencies, individuals, local governments, education institutions, and others, leaving approximately $1 billion for the State to deploy between now and December 31, 2024.

Vermont’s Legislature and Governor Phil Scott have agreed to invest the ARPA monies in broadband infrastructure, clean water, climate action, housing, and economic development related to pandemic impacts. The state budget for fiscal year 2022, which started on July 1, 2021 and ends June 30, 2022, allocates nearly $640 million of the ARPA funds to programs and initiatives in these six areas – including $100 million for clean water and $65 million for climate action.

ARPA and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources

Between July 2021 and June 2022, the Agency of Natural Resources will distribute ARPA funds to support water and wastewater infrastructure programs. The Agency of Natural Resources is currently developing the appropriate funding criteria. The Agency will finalize the criteria  in the coming months . Once the criteria have been established, there will be guidance provided and specific individuals to contact with questions.  "Get on the list" to get updates and funding instructions once it's ready. 

  1. Treating stormwater runoff from larger sites: Get on the list
  2. Reducing sewer overflows: Get on the list
  3. Improving water and sewer infrastructure in manufactured housing communities: Visit webpage
  4. Providing financial assistance to low-income homeowners with failed septic systems and/or wells: Visit webpage
  5. Developing community sewer systems in some of the villages that lack such systems: Get on the list
  6. Designing and installing pretreatment processes to address high strength or toxic wastewater commonly seen in craft brewing, dairy and meat processing and other small industries: Get on the list

More Information

  • Watch ANR's ARPA webinar series to get more details on each priority funding area on ANR's YouTube channel.
  • Watch the public meeting Secretary Moore held on October 7, 2021 to provide more information about ANR's ARPA funding and find more details in this powerpoint presentation.
  • Some projects may require additional permitting to develop. If you're not sure, check out the Permit Navigator to determine what, if any, ANR permits might be required.
  • If you have questions, please email anr.info@vermont.gov or call Neil Kamman at (802)-490-6137.