Alexandria gets $59.4 million in federal coronavirus relief funding

Alexandria is slated to receive $59.4 million from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, and Alexandria will be reaching out to residents on how to spend it.

“On behalf of all Alexandrians, I want to share my heartfelt gratitude to Senator Warner, Senator Kaine and Representative Beyer for their assistance in achieving this legislation,” Mayor Justin Wilson said in a statement. “The assistance from the American Rescue Plan will help our residents and business community in many ways over the coming years and will certainly expedite our recovery after the devastating economic and personal impacts of the last year. We will continue to persevere together, and this aid will help to see us through to the other side of this global pandemic.”

The Alexandria Economic Development Partnership and Visit Alexandria are developing a plan on spending the money, which will come in two allotments this May and in May of 2022.

The City, which will get the money in May 2021 and May 2022, must be spent between March 3, 2021, and December 31, 2024.

“The City will proactively seek community feedback to develop a plan for decision-making about the use of the ARP funds,” city staff noted. “The process for developing the plan and timeline will be presented to City Council for consideration at the March 23 Legislative Meeting.”

Last year, the city received $27.5 million in federal funds that were allocated to the state government. This time, the federal funds will go directly allocation to localities.

The general plan from the city manager’s office is as follows:

• Continued financial relief to households, small businesses and nonprofits
• Or financially assisting the city’s tourism, travel, and hospitality industries
• To fund city services
• investments in broadband, sewer and water infrastructure