AUGUST 2022 NEWSLETTER
A Billion Here, A Billion There: Where Have All of Ohio’s COVID Relief Dollars Gone?
Between the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act, state and local leaders were able to decide how to spend more than $15 billion dollars. With our partner, Advocates for Ohio’s Future, we set out to see where the dollars have gone—and share that information with the public, advocates, and the media.
On August 10, we launched a new webpage, www.OhioARPATracker.org, to provide up-to-date information detailing how Ohio is spending federal relief dollars. The webpage houses information on how Ohio spent its Coronavirus Relief Funds from the CARES Act and State Fiscal Recovery Funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and details what resources are still available. The webpage has links to spreadsheets that track appropriations to the penny and answers:
- How much money was allocated, for what purpose, and has it been spent to date?
- How was the spending authorized?
- How much money is left to be allocated at the state and local level?
To put color on the numbers, we also released a report, A Billion Here, A Billion There: Where Have All of Ohio’s COVID Relief Dollars Gone? The report provides an overview of how federal funds have been spent and the process used to appropriate those dollars.
Ohio still has $1.9 billion in state fiscal recovery funds to spend. Our report provides a recommendation on how those dollars should be invested. From support for Ohio’s food banks in the short term and preparing for the end of the public health emergency to addressing lead poisoning prevention, affordable housing, and health disparities, our recommended investments can make meaningful improvements in the health and stability of low-income Ohioans.
Our release was covered in media across the state, shared broadly on social media, and has generated interest in the state’s allocation of funds. Some of the news coverage included:
- Ohio Capital Journal: Groups introduce tracker for Ohio’s COVID funds and suggestions for remaining dollars
- Ohio Public Radio, Statehouse News Bureau: Advocates warn of ‘COVID cliff’ as Ohio looks to spend remaining federal relief dollars
- Cleveland.com: Ohio has spent nearly two-thirds of its ARPA dollars. Here’s where it is going: Stimulus Watch
- Spectrum News: Ohio still to use 35% of American Rescue Plan funds
We will be holding a webinar to dive further into the data and report on Friday, August 19 at 10:00 am. Register to join us HERE.
