August 31, 2021

CITY OF LAS VEGAS

Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds

(American Rescue Plan)

Recovery Plan Performance Report
LETTER FROM THE MAYOR

Dear Neighbor, 

The global pandemic has had a devastating impact on our city. We have lost 

family, friends and businesses to this virus and it is a long road to recovery.

Our hearts go out to those who have experienced tragic losses as we look to find a 

way forward to a brighter future.

Las Vegas has always been a community that helps. We take care of our neighbors 

and work together to build a place that is special. To the world, we are the neon 

lights and all the glamour that the name Las Vegas evokes, and for our residents and 

businesses we are home. 

The city will use American Rescue Plan Act funding to continue to work

toward recovery for our community. We are already re-claiming our pre-pandemic 

momentum, and you can bet that Las Vegas is returning bigger and better than ever. 

In August 2021, we asked our residents to tell us what their priorities are for these 

federal recovery funds. We received a wide range of input through a community 

survey. Some areas mentioned included nonprofit support, affordable housing, 

business assistance and public assistance.

This plan takes that feedback and creates a roadmap for the city moving forward so 

that we can invest these federal funds wisely. I encourage you to read the plan and 

let the city know your thoughts. You can do that by contacting our Customer Care 

Center at 702.229.CARE, reaching out through our social media channels or the city 

website, www.lasvegasnevada.gov. 

Carolyn G. Goodman

Mayor, City of Las Vegas
Carolyn G. Goodman

Mayor

Stavros S. Anthony

Mayor Pro Tem Ward 4

Brian Knudsen

Councilman Ward 1

Victoria Seaman

Councilwoman Ward 2

Olivia Díaz

Councilwoman Ward 3

Cedric Crear

Councilman Ward 5

Michele Fiore

Councilwoman Ward 6
4

WARD 3

WARD 1

WARD 2

WARD 5

WARD 4

WARD 6

CHARLESTON BLVD

HUALAPAI WAY

NELLIS BLVD

DESERT INN RD

RAINBOW BLVD

DECATUR BLVD

SHAUMBER RD

BUFFALO DR

SAHARA AVE

OWENS AVE

LAKE MEAD DR

MOCCASIN RD

WARD 3

WARD 1

WARD 2

WARD 5

WARD 4

WARD 6

CHARLESTON BLVD

HUALAPAI WAY

NELLIS BLVD

DESERT INN RD

RAINBOW BLVD

DECATUR BLVD

SHAUMBER RD

BUFFALO DR

SAHARA AVE

OWENS AVE

LAKE MEAD DR

MOCCASIN RD

WARD 6

WARD 4

WARD 2

WARD 1

WARD 5

WARD 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS

General Overview 6

Executive Summary 6

Uses of Funds 8

Promoting Equitable Outcomes 9

Community Engagement 11

Project Submittals 14

“The city of Las Vegas plans 

to balance the need

to move the funding into the 

community quickly while

ensuring the greatest

impact.”
6

GENERAL OVERVIEW

Executive Summary

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319) 

into law. The Act established the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to deliver aid 

to eligible state, local, territorial and Tribal governments to respond to the COVID-19 emergency 

and bring back jobs. The American Rescue Plan provides $350 billion to state and local government 

in emergency relief to support the public health response and lay the foundation for a strong and 

equitable economic recovery. The funds are intended to provide an infusion of resources in response 

to the economic and public health impacts of COVID-19. These funds provide substantial flexibility for 

each government to meet local needs—including support for households, small businesses, impacted 

industries, essential workers and the communities hardest hit by the crisis. Local governments may 

also use these funds to make necessary investments in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure.

The city of Las Vegas received $130.6 million in funding that must be obligated by December 31, 

2024, and fully expended by December 31, 2026. The city received the first half of this allocation, 

$65.3 million, and the remainder will be disbursed next year. 

The funding objectives launched by the U.S. Department of the Treasury include: 

•	 Support urgent COVID-19 response efforts to continue to decrease spread of the virus and 

bring the pandemic under control

•	 Replace lost revenue for eligible state, local, territorial and Tribal governments to strengthen 

support for vital public services and help retain jobs

•	 Support immediate economic stabilization for households and businesses

•	 Address systemic public health and economic challenges that have contributed to the unequal 

impact of the pandemic

The city of Las Vegas plans to balance the need to move the funding into the community quickly while 

ensuring the greatest impact. The city established a plan to evaluate and provide careful consideration 

for requests to award funding to ensure public accountability and transparency. 

The city of Las Vegas continues to look carefully at all aspects of this pandemic. During this 

unprecedented time, the city remains committed to the health, social and economic well-being of all 

members of its diverse population. 

“The city of Las Vegas received $130.6 million in funding

that must be obligated by December 31, 2024, and fully 

expended by December 31, 2026.”
7

The city has implemented practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at improving 

sustainability and the standard of living for current and future residents. The city of Las Vegas 

Mayor and City Council strive to help those experiencing homelessness to become healthy, housed 

and hired, and to help connect these individuals with services. Initiatives include collaborative effort 

between the city of Las Vegas and the downtown Las Vegas medical and health care community to 

further the availability of services and enhance the quality of health care for all of southern Nevada.

The city is also committed to plans to create a hub for incubation of new technologies in underserved 

distressed areas. 

Since the start of the COVID-19 emergency, the city of Las Vegas developed a citywide strategic 

plan to ensure the City Council priorities are being met in the community. The current 2020 Citywide 

Strategic Plan focuses on three priorities: public safety, healthcare and economic diversification.

The three to five year plan outlines objectives for each of these priorities, as listed below.

Priority I: Public Safety 

Objectives: 

•	 Implement crime preventive strategies through the development of public trust and community 

policing programs

•	 Increase level of safety and satisfaction with law enforcement, fire and medical, and judicial 

services by improving quality of life for our residents, businesses and visitors

•	 Address nuisance impacts to businesses and neighborhoods through increased homelessness 

mitigation efforts 

•	 Develop multi-disciplinary human services to support the public safety system

Priority II: Healthcare

Objectives: 

•	 Expand health care services, mental health, and substance abuse services for at-risk populations, 

including the homeless

•	 Develop a stronger public health system through public/private partnerships that support the 

health and wellbeing of the community

•	 Facilitate development of the Las Vegas Medical District to provide reliable access to medical 

services consistently throughout the community

•	 Support efforts to improve technical and higher education in the healthcare field to

include research

•	 Foster the environment for employment opportunities for healthcare professionals in

the community 

Priority III: Diversification of the Economy

Objectives: 

•	 Incentivize private investment to increase business development and housing options

•	 Support education from Pre-K through workforce development to prepare for the increasing 

needs in the high-demand labor markets

•	 Evaluate zoning and licensing restrictions to allow for new types of business development

•	 Support large scale business development in the undeveloped portion of the city 
8

Uses of Funds 

The city’s proposed funding strategy focuses on the areas of nonprofits providing services to

Las Vegas community, affordable housing, business assistance and continued pandemic response to 

create a pathway to recovery from the public health emergency. The following is a preliminary plan for 

the first $65 million allocation of funds from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The list of project 

examples under each focus area is not exhaustive. Local nonprofit organizations, businesses as well 

as internal city departments were eligible to submit project proposals that fell under one of the focus 

areas. It is important to note that the review and evaluation process of proposed projects is underway 

and the city has not made any selections or obligated any funds as of the time of this report.

All proposed funding strategies will have to be approved by the City Council for implementation.

Non-Profits to support the Las Vegas community (40%): 

•	 Workforce development

•	 Homelessness support

•	 Early education

•	 Healthcare

Affordable Housing to support (20%):

•	 Acquisition of land for development 

•	 Rehabilitation of existing housing

•	 Increase housing inventory

•	 Land re-purposing

Business Assistance to support (20%):

•	 Business reopening support

•	 Support for minority-owned businesses

•	 Small business support

•	 Job restoration and employment access

Public Pandemic response to support (20%):

•	 Continued response to pandemic

•	 Vaccination and testing

•	 Homelessness support

•	 Administration of ARP funding

•	 City services restoration
9

Promoting Equitable Outcomes 

The city of Las Vegas is committed to an “Equity in all Policies” approach using an equity lens in all 

planning to ensure that all city resources promote opportunity for all its residents. It is the city of

Las Vegas’ plan to continue to support the public health response and lay the foundation for a strong 

and equitable economic recovery. The city actively looks to engage with partners and opportunities 

for health, social, and economic wellbeing for all its residents (i.e., the citywide strategic plan).

In 2020, the City Council formalized those efforts by passing a resolution that established the 

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Initiative in the City Manager’s Office. 

The DEI resolution states that the city will be better positioned to achieve its strategic goals by 

implementing proven equity practices and policies to address significant inequities in health outcomes 

and other disparities that decrease the quality of life for specific groups. The resolution mandates 

that city programming will focus on historically underserved groups and specifically identifies these 

target populations as low-income communities which are disproportionately communities of color, 

LGBTQ, elder adults and persons with a disability.

The DEI strategies include extensive commitments to ensuring community and stakeholder awareness 

through authentic community engagement and communications that are aimed at the target groups 

identified in the city’s resolution: people with low income, communities of color, LGBTQ, elder adults 

and persons with a disability. More specifically, the office of Communications will create tailored 

messaging about each DEI strategy and develop culturally responsive approaches to community 

communications for a variety of audiences. 

Additionally, the office of Communications provides outreach in Spanish to specifically engage the 

Hispanic community, which is a large percentage of our population. Finally, the city is currently in 

the process of hiring a diversity officer housed in its office of Government and Community Affairs 

to focus on working with external groups representing diverse populations on policies to improve 

economic opportunity for low-income people and people of color. These efforts will help equalize 

residents’ ability to become aware of city services and resources. 
10

Page 15

Q2 2021

Summary

City of Las Vegas NRI

High

Medium-High

Medium

Medium-Low

Low

89143

89145

89106

89117

89110 89102 89166

89104 89130 89131

89101 89108 89146 89149 89138

89128 89107 89129 89144 89134

High MediumHighMedium MediumLowLow

Community-level disparities data indicates that certain groups have different levels of access to 

benefits and services across groups. According to the city of Las Vegas’s Neighborhood Economic 

Risk Assessment, neighborhoods with the highest Neighborhood Risk Index (NRI) have increased 

TANF, SNAP, and Medicaid recipients; high unemployment insurance claims; and high numbers of 

foreclosures, residential and commercial vacancies, and bank-owned properties (source: Applied 

Analysis). Many of the city’s target populations fall within these neighborhoods and, therefore, have 

higher levels of economic risk. According to the National Equity Atlas, 27 percent of Black and 

21 percent of Latin Las Vegans live in poverty, as compared to 6 percent of White Las Vegans.

The graph above represents the disparities across neighborhoods within the city limits.
11

SURVEY RESPONSE:

Most Important Program Weighted Score 

2.77

2.57

2.51

2.22

Community Engagement 

The city of Las Vegas solicited community feedback based on the eligibility guidelines established by 

the U.S. Department of The Treasury. The city offered an online survey to the Las Vegas community 

to determine the extent of support needed in the areas of public assistance, business assistance, 

affordable housing and services provided by nonprofit organizations. In response to the question of 

the most important programs, affordable housing was the top need identified. 

In addition to the on-line survey, a number of community engagement meetings were conducted

by Clark County to provide a platform for residents and stakeholders to provide insight to their 

needs. Various issues were brought up by the participants. Below are summaries of the issues of 

most concern. 

Affordable

Housing

Public

Assistance

Non-Profit

Assistance

Business

Assistance
12

Comments on Affordable Housing efforts:

The community responded strongly on the affordable housing need. Primarily the development 

of additional housing and acquisition to obtain land. Feedback included programs for rental and 

utility assistance as well as the implementation of a more robust case management software to find 

resources easily. 

“Create programs that keep people housed”

“Fund programs to focus on chronic homeless individuals”

“Provide assistance to landlords”

“Support to expand critical home repairs to low income and senior housing”

“Invest in partnerships and programs to address housing assistance”

“Permanent housing for the special needs population and foster kids who are transitioning into 

adulthood”

“Landlord assistance, provide funding to landlord directly instead of tenants”

Comments on Economic and Public Health efforts:

Funding for public healthcare was a focus. The investment for improved healthcare services and 

support for the behavioral healthcare program was emphasized. Mental illness services are a need 

especially as it pertains to the homeless population.

“Educational workshops for Pre-K incorporating family engagement”

“Support for consumer rights (scam prevention), educational needs in the juvenile system, assist 

domestic violence and immigrant victims”

“Invest in a robust platform to assist those in need to find available resources easily”

“Permanent home for Children’s Attorney project and NV state-wide victim’s rights center”

“Mental health funding, support for those impacted by mental illness”

“Supportive services for the food pantry”

“Expand tele-health, infrastructure for chillers and ventilation system”

“Expand behavioral health program, enhance community nursing home visiting program”
13

Comments on Small Business, Workforce Development efforts:

Workforce development and investing in human infrastructure was a priority. Strengthening job 

training opportunities and providing skill development programs will aid in helping the unemployed, 

underemployed and displaced workers. 

“Taking education and training into communities of need, helping to obtain necessary 

certifications of value”

“Funding to strengthen the community by providing self-efficiency through job training and not 

relying on public assistance”

“Expand capital to start-up businesses”

“Job skill training, workforce development, food program for youth homes and seniors”

“Develop on-line work force training, equitable based employment”

“Support for the ESL program and adult education”

Comments on Water, Sewer and Broadband infrastructure efforts:

Broadband and connectivity investment will provide access to underserved communities. Expansion 

will promote the use of tele-health programs to provide health needs more efficiently. Funding 

connectivity will increase access for educational needs. Expand hot spots and Wi-Fi to neighborhoods. 

“Invest in broadband, expand hot spots and Wi-Fi to neighborhoods”

“Provide access to devices for the underserved and unserved” 

“Funding for connectivity and broadband will increase access to educational programs”

“Provide clean drinking water. Infrastructure funding to support system upgrades and maintenance”
14

Project Submittals

Under the guidance of the City Council, the city established a systematic approach for evaluation of 

project proposals and distribution of funding into the community.

The pre-application submission process is an avenue to gather and consolidate all potential project 

proposals. Applicants can demonstrate how funding will help to address those affected by the 

pandemic. The city established a committee to review and evaluate all pre-applications and to provide 

assurance the request is in compliance with the U.S. Department of the Treasury guidelines and is an 

appropriate eligible use. Based on the reviews, the committee will make recommendations on projects 

that provide the most positive impact on the community and those affected. The pre-application 

submittal period closed August 13, 2021. The table below provides a summary.

Pre-Applications Submittals Average Requested Total Requested

Businesses 215 $630,190 $135,490,763 

Non-Profits 294 $6,629,577 $1,949,095,753 

Internal Projects 68 $2,576,159 $175,178,784 

Total 577 - $2,259,765,300 

The committee will assess each plan based on city priorities, community need, ability to monitor use 

of funds, fiscal impact to the community, feasibility, risk assessment and other funding opportunities. 

Plans will be prioritized based on overall score, grouped by focus area and available funding until all 

funds are accounted for. The final review will be used to formulate a draft project plan to be presented 

to City Council for approval later this year.

As a result of the community engagement responses, city priorities and focus areas, the City Manager’s 

Office will refine the proposed allocations as the city finalizes the approved projects. 

Expenses

As of July 31, 2021, there are no expenditures or obligations to report for the $65.3 million of 

Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds received.