State Website Announced For Missouri ARPA Funding Access

Missouri Governor Mike Parson has announced the start of a website help with access to Missouri’s American Rescue Act Funds. The website is located at moapra.mo.gov. The website will also provide information on how Missouri organizations, non-profits, municipalities, businesses, communities, and other entities can apply for the State’s ARPA funds. Visitors will also be able to learn about how ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Funds are being spent in Missouri.

There are certain categories of allowable spending under federal regulations for the ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. The eligible categories of spending include projects or programs that support public health expenditures; address negative economic impacts caused by COVID-19; replace lost public sector revenue; or invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure.

While some funding has been appropriated for fiscal year 2022, the Missouri General Assembly truly agreed upon and finally passed HB 3020 on May 6, 2022, which allocates a majority of Missouri’s State Fiscal Recovery Funds for specific purposes. Governor Parson has until July 1st to take action on the bill. Once the budget is finalized and implementation of the funding begins, additional information will be added and maintained on the website. Until that time, the information on the website will be somewhat limited.

As of today, the only grant programs accepting applications are the water, wastewater, stormwater, and lead service line inventory grant programs. The remaining grant programs will begin accepting applications after July 1 and into the fall.

Per federal law, all ARPA funded programs and grants must be allocated by December 31, 2024, and spent by December 31, 2026.