When Harris County received nearly $1.2 billion in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding in 2021, the county decided that the best way to serve residents with these funds was to invest in transformational programs, instead of using the money to plug budget holes. As Harris County approaches its third year of ARPA funding, the county has so far invested nearly $643 million ARPA dollars. The programs that the county has chosen to invest in have turned the region into a national leader on issues from reducing homelessness to maternal health to early childhood education. Some of the things Harris County has been able to accomplish with ARPA funding include:
- Reducing homelessness by 20%
- Investing in apprenticeship programs that will help create hundreds of jobs in high-growing, fast-paced industries like construction and IT
- Increasing the number of slots available for high-quality child care by 10%
- Tackling Harris County’s high maternal mortality rates by helping hundreds of mothers receive prenatal care and support through home visitation
- Making county buildings and schools safer by establishing a comprehensive lead abatement program
Earlier this summer, Judge Hidalgo visited the White House to share success stories from ARPA programs in Harris County. Investing ARPA funds in big picture programs gives the county the potential to serve constituents for years to come. Thank you to the Biden Administration, the county’s federal partners and all the departments here in Harris County that have helped put these programs in motion. You can view a comprehensive ARPA report here. |
