The County of Marin received $50.2 million from the federal government’s State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds program. The County has to spend all funds by the end of 2024.
Priority spending areas
The County will focus support on addressing inequities that were worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Racial equity will not be a standalone spending area. It will be a key element of all identified spending areas. Our Racial Equity Action Plan guides work to advance racial equity in all aspects of County operations.
The Board of Supervisors identified these priorities for the funds:
Equity
- Racial equity initiatives
- Enhanced funding for non-profit partners
- Economic impacts, including specifically for West Marin
Health
- Public health and mental health services, including ongoing COVID-response
- Southern Marin Health and Human Services hub
- Childcare and early education initiatives
Housing
- Homelessness services and permanent supportive housing (including City and Town partnerships)
- Revitalization of Golden Gate Village in Marin City
Infrastructure
- Climate change and sea level rise projects
- Fire Department facility improvements
- Broadband improvements and expansion
Projects
The Board of Supervisors identified priority spending areas listed will make indirect use of the stimulus funds. Projects within priority-spending areas will be supported by the proceeds of local funds that result from the County applying all direct SLFRF funds to: Public Health Response, Public Sector Workforce Capacity, and Revenue Replacement.
As the Board of Supervisors approves projects within the priority spending areas, they will be added to this page as indirect beneficiaries of the County’s receipt of SLFRF funding.
Sea Level Rise & Climate Change adaptation projects - $5,000,000
Related Board date: August 24, 2021 (Santa Venetia levee $1m), December 14, 2021 (all projects $4m): July 12, 2022 (Stinson Beach $100k)
Mitigation projects were identified in the County's Climate Action Plan, and are focused on smaller scale, high emission reduction potential projects that address the Marin's largest sources of emissions (transportation, agriculture, and natural gas), as well as reflect nature-based adaptation measures that plan for sea level rise and improve diverse habitats and wildlife. The Santa Venetia levee project protects 660 parcels from tidal flooding and sea level rise.
Legal services to tenants to prevent evictions - $258,000
Related Board date: March 15, 2022
The $258,000 contract with Legal Aid of Marin provides free housing-related legal services to low and extremely low-income residents countywide.
Childcare Investments - $1,000,000
Related Board date: April 26, 2022 (First 5 Marin $525k)
The $525,000 contract with First 5 Marin provides for substantial local investments in teacher recruitment and retention, safety-net navigation, and early childhood mental health services.
City/County Partnerships on Homelessness - $2,922,648
Related Board date: March 15, 2022 ($500k to Novato, San Rafael, Sausalito), September 27, 2022 ($922k for High Utilizers), October 25, 2022 ($500k to Novato to match state funds)
These funds will support (1) enhanced, intensive case management for individuals experiencing homelessness and (2) provide matching funds for targeted supportive services to assist individuals in moving from encampments into housing in Novato, San Rafael, and Sausalito.
Non-Profit Partnerships - $300,000
Related Board date: May 24, 2022
Funds will support various nonprofit organizations in Marin in providing community services and programming to underserved areas and residents.
South Eliseo Homekey Property - $6,400,000
Related Board date: July 19, 2022 ($1m fees), May 10, 2022 (project approval), January 31, 2023 ($5.4m construction costs)
The property will provide critical, long-term supportive housing services to up to 50 individuals experiencing homelessness in Marin. Under the State's Homekey program, the property will provide permanent supportive housing to low-income individuals with 24/7 onsite support.
Department Equity Initiatives - $2,500,000
Related Board date: August 23, 2022 (Foster care initiatives $190k), September 27, 2022 (Marin City Community Engagement Plan $100k, Marin City 80 exhibit $50k, Parks Workforce Housing $400k), January 31, 2023 (Arts Equity Network $20k), April 25, 2023 (Microbusiness Food Support $100k, Fire Foundry $500k, Public Defender DMV Liaison $94k)
As part of the FY 2022-24 Budget process, $2.5 million was approved for 20 one-time initiatives in 14 different County Departments to advance racial equity. These include investments such as the Racial Covenant Mapping project, subsidies for Foster Youth, and entry-level career programs in Public Works, Elections, Fire, and Parks.
Broadband Investments - $1,000,000
Related Board date: September 13, 2022 (Bolinas Stinson Unified School District $100k), March 7, 2023 (Marin City internet access $520k)
$1 million was approved for one-time investments related to expanding access to high quality broadband, specifically for underserved residents and geographic areas in Marin. This includes low-income, disabled and school-aged children; as well as West Marin residents, schools and organizations.
Emergency Rental Assistance - $250,000
Related Board date: October 11, 2022
Funding for administrative support of the County's various emergency rental assistance programs, which provided more than $9.4 million in U.S. Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance round 2 funding to households in need in Marin County.
Golden Gate Village Resident Empowerment Fund - $2,000,000
Related Board date: February 28, 2023
Matched with $1 million from the Marin Community Foundation, the County's $2 million ($3 million total) will go towards establishing a new Resident Investment Fund which will be used to provide enhanced economic opportunities, pathways to homeownership, wealth creation, debt forgiveness, job training and education for Golden Gate Village residents.
Healthcare Infrastructure Support - $1,000,000
Related Board date: February 28, 2023
Provides funding to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC's): Marin Community Clinics, Petaluma Health Clinic/Coastal Health Center, Marin City Health and Wellness Center, and Ritter Clinic to support various capital improvement projects.
Electrify Marin Rebates - $400,000
Related Board date: October 17, 2023
The Electrify Marin program provides financial incentives to homeowners who switch from gas-powered appliances to high efficiency electric appliances.
Participatory Budgeting - $2,500,000
The Office of Equity is managing the County's first Participatory Budgeting program -- a process which will award $10,000 to $250,000 grants to nonprofits for community oriented projects that advance racial equity.
Reporting to the U.S. Treasury
The federal government published guidance for how local governments can use State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. Their rules say that we can use these funds for a broad range of needs because the pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of our lives.
There are extensive reporting requirements for the direct use of these funds. This includes:
- Quarterly expenditure reports submitted to the U.S. Treasury detailing all goods and materials procured, subcontracted awards
- Compliance with federal employment, procurement, and construction regulations and standards for all expenses
For administrative efficiency, the County of Marin identified 3 qualifying projects for the entire $50.2 million:
- Public Health Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, $32.6 million
- Public Sector Workforce Capacity, $7.6 million
- Revenue Replacement, $10 million
The County will repurpose the proceeds of local funds towards projects that match the priority spending areas.
The goals of this strategy are:
- Quick application and use of the funds for our community’s highest priorities
- Full and incontestable adherence to eligible use of funds defined by the federal government
- Low administrative burden in required federal reporting for the expenditures
Expenditure reporting
The County is required to submit an annual Recovery Plan report to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The report shows:
- How expended funds were used
- How future funds are planned to be spent
Recovery Plan reports
About State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 is a $1.9 trillion federal relief program. It is sometimes referred to by its acronym, ARPA. This act provides financial resources to millions of Americans and businesses to help them recover from the pandemic.
The act included $65 billion to support counties and cities through a program called the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
The County also receives other American Rescue Plan Act funding in addition to State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.