Richmond, VA — Thanks to President Biden and Democrats in Congress, Virginians are already seeing the benefits of the American Rescue Plan. Millions of Virginians have received checks of up to $1,400, over three million Virginians are fully vaccinated, and an expanded child tax credit will lift tens of thousands of Virginia children out of poverty. This week Virginia is set to receive federal aid money that will help small businesses make ends meet, reopen public schools safely, and invest in critical infrastructure. 

With the ARP putting Virginia on the path to a strong recovery, here's what Virginians are reading about the American Rescue Plan's impact on their communities: 

Richmond Times-Dispatch: Virginia cities to get double boost from American Rescue Plan as money starts to flow: "Virginia will receive $4.3 billion, or $500 million more than previously expected, under the American Rescue Plan Act, while Richmond and other cities will get a double financial benefit because of their status as independent cities under guidance released by the U.S. Treasury Department on Monday...Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, D-Va., drove the needs home in a letter with the state’s seven Democratic congressional representatives to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen...The letter was not signed by Virginia’s Republican congressional representatives, who all voted against the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act." 

Henrico Citizen: Henrico to receive $64.2M in American Rescue Plan funds: "Henrico County will receive $64.2 million in American Rescue Act funds, the Biden administration announced Monday...The local recovery funds are designed to help provide localities with significant flexibility for each jurisdiction to meet local needs — including support for households, small businesses, impacted industries, essential workers, and the communities hardest-hit by the crisis." 

Daily Press: Over $790M in rescue-plan funds heading to cities, counties and colleges in Hampton Roads: "The American Rescue Plan will pump more than $790 million of pandemic relief funds into the Hampton Roads economy through funding to local governments and area colleges and universities...Colleges and universities in Hampton Roads will receive more than $162 million in emergency funding under the American Rescue Plan, Reps. Robert C. 'Bobby' Scott, D-Newport News, and Elaine Luria, D-Norfolk, reported...At least half the funding each institution is getting will be distributed as emergency cash assistance grants to students who are facing hunger, homelessness or other hardships, he said." 

Culpeper Star-Exponent: Culpeper area counties to receive more than $35 million from American Rescue Plan: "The five-county area is slated to receive another windfall of COVID-19 era relief funding from the federal government worth more than $35 million, according to a news release on Tuesday from U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, D-Virginia." 

Chatham Star-Tribune: Over $40 million in COVID relief coming to Pittsylvania County, Danville: "U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (Va.) applauded the Treasury Department’s launch of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, established by the American Rescue Plan Act. This relief will bring $11,723,057 to Pittsylvania County and $29,142,851 to the City of Danville." 

WVIR Charlottesville: Virginia to receive $7.2 billion from Treasury Department’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds: "Charlottesville and Albemarle County are among multiple central Virginia and Shenandoah Valley localities set to receive millions of dollars in federal COVID-19 relief funds. Tuesday, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced the U.S. Treasury Department will launch the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund to provide $7.2 billion in relief for Virginia. The recovery fund was established by the American Rescue Plan. It aims to help states and localities recover economically from the pandemic and address issues that the health crisis highlighted, like broadband needs." 

Bristol Herald-Courier: Local cities, counties divide $70M in coronavirus relief funds: "A dozen Southwest Virginia cities and towns will divide about $70 million in federal Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, with more than $10 million each going to Bristol, Virginia and Washington County." 

Richmond Times-Dispatch: Editorial: Purposeful American Rescue Plan investments can generate long-term growth for Virginia: "The ARP has the potential to be proactive. Roughly $350 billion of the $1.9 trillion package is housed in the 'Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund' — a batch of aid launched Monday to 'help bring back jobs, address [the] pandemic’s economic fallout, and lay the foundation for a strong, equitable recovery,' Treasury said...How will the ARP not just plug pandemic-related holes but build capacity for the jobs and mobility needs of the future? From high-speed bus lines to public ride-sharing services, there is flexibility to experiment, without the time pressure of the CARES Act or the severity of COVID-19’s toll before vaccines were developed."

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“'There are no benefits to enduring two historic economic crises in a 13-year span, except for one: We can improve our policymaking,' U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Monday, adding that during the Great Recession, insufficient relief led to austerity that 'undermined the broader recovery.' We’re confident that purposeful American Rescue Plan investments can do the opposite and generate long-term growth for Virginia." 

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