NCLM Southern City Volume 71, Issue 3, 2021

SOUTHERN CITY QUARTER 3 2021 32 American Rescue Plan continued from page 30 (As of late September, no state budget has been passed. Please stay tuned to NCLM’s weekly legislative bulletin for updates.) More than anything, though, the draw to this spending category seems to be due to how it meets the agreed-upon criteria for spending choices: it is a one-time expense, and it is transformational. That’s a target used by federal, state, and local leaders alike. And it’s at the heart of what cities and towns do for their communities—they build. “I’ve been in public service a long time,” Governor Cooper said. “I’ve never seen this much available funding that can be invested in our communities for transfor- mational change.” While undisputed in Wayne County, some cities have highlighted other priorities. The City of Durham, for example, has published a recovery plan that highlights equity as a top priority, as determined through input from the community. To this end, at least some of the city’s ARP funding is set to go towards premium pay, which will provide a one-time bonus rewarding essential workers for the risks they took through- out the COVID-19 pandemic. Through Durham’s process too, though, the result is good answers to the right questions: What is the most important thing I can address, what is a one-time expense, and what is the investment that will yield the greatest long-term impact? Resources The quantity of available resources, con- sultative services, educational events and workshops is substantial: the N.C. League has a dedicated website, arp.nclm.org ; the state’s N.C. Pandemic Recovery Office has a video series, fact sheets, templates, and more; and the UNC School of Government is hosting weekly call-in sessions where experts can help answer questions for local leaders. As the ARP process continues, the League will continue to serve as your go-to resource. Services are being developed to help with consultative services, partner- ship facilitation and, perhaps most import- ant, accounting and reporting of ARP funds. The blog at arp.nclm.org tracks all developments, and our weekly newsletter, League Letter, shares each new addition or update to the site. Stay tuned for upcom- ing workshops in your county or region. We also are proud to support our part- ners, NC PRO and the UNC School of Government, who have created a series of resources and events that allow local lead- ers to get answers to their most pressing questions. Lastly, we want to hear from you. Ques- tions, concerns, and otherwise, please feel free to reach out to us for help at [email protected] .