U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

AN OVERVIEW OF THE

SLFRF Equity and Outcomes 

Resource Guide & Discussion About 

Implementation

June 2022

* DISCLAIMER: Reference to any commercial products or services in this presentation is not an endorsement or Government sanction of those non-Federal entities, its

services or products.
16

American Rescue Plan

Last year, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act into law, which has resulted in 

one of the strongest periods of economic growth in a century. 

The American Rescue Plan includes:

• State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, which delivers $350 billion for states, territories,

localities, and Tribal governments to respond to the COVID-19 emergency and lead a strong,

resilient, and equitable recovery.

Key objectives of this funding:

• Fight the pandemic and support families and businesses struggling with its public health and

economic impacts

• Maintain vital public services, even amid declines in revenue resulting from the crisis

• Build a strong, resilient, and equitable recovery by making investments that support longterm growth and opportunity

U.S. Department of the Treasury, Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
17

SLFRF Implementation Approach

Treasury’s final rule provides greater flexibility and simplicity for recipients to turn the tide 

on the pandemic, maintain vital public services amid revenue shortfalls, and build a strong, 

resilient, and equitable recovery.

NEW FEATURES IN THE FINAL RULE

• In the final rule, there is an expanded set of automatically

eligible uses of funds when provided in disproportionately

impacted communities. This makes it easier for recipients to

address underlying disparities that contributing to more

severe impacts of the pandemic in underserved communities.

More Automatically 

Eligible Uses

• Expansion of eligible populations allows recipients to serve

families and communities hardest hit by the pandemic.

Expanded Eligible 

Populations

1

2

U.S. Department of the Treasury, Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
4

SLFRF Implementation Approach Continued

Treasury’s final rule provides greater flexibility and simplicity for recipients to turn the tide 

on the pandemic, maintain vital public services amid revenue shortfalls, and build a strong, 

resilient, and equitable recovery.

PROGRAM DESIGN ELEMENTS

• The SLFRF reporting is designed to support equity by

encouraging recipients to engage their communities in

the design of their SLFRF programs.

Structured to 

Encourage Equitable 

Practices & 

Approaches

• The program provided ongoing government-to-government

support to Tribal governments by prioritizing Tribal 

consultations to ensure that the final rule and reporting

approach were tailored to the unique needs of Tribal

governments.

Providing 

Government-toGovernment Support

3

4

U.S. Department of the Treasury, Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
5

SLFRF Equity & Outcomes Resource Guide

U.S. Department of the Treasury, Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
20

SLFRF Equity and Outcomes Resource Guide Summary

KEY FOCUS OF THE GUIDE

• Goal Setting

• Using Equity Frameworks

• Identifying High Need Populations

• Engaging Underserved Communities

• Convening Leaders

• Using Evidence

• Tracking Outcomes

In the guide, Treasury highlights examples of approaches and tools recipients are using in 

the areas of equity, community engagement, evidence-based investments, and 

performance management. 

U.S. Department of the Treasury, Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
Peer Discussion

U.S. Department of the Treasury, Coronavirus State & 

Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
22

Speakers

Lauren Larson

Director

Governor's Office of State 

Planning & Budgeting

State of Colorado

Shamiah Kerney

Chief Recovery Officer

Mayor’s Office of Recovery 

Programs

City of Baltimore,

Baltimore, MD

U.S. Department of the Treasury, Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
1

Using Evidence in Fiscal 

Decisions

Lauren Larson

Director, Colorado Governor’s Office of 

State Planning & Budgeting

* DISCLAIMER: Reference to any commercial products or services in this presentation is not an endorsement or Government sanction of those non-Federal entities, its services or products.
2

Linking Budget Requests to Evidence
3

Linking Budget Requests to Evidence

The Evidence 

Continuum

Status Update Regarding Colorado’s Use of Evidence:

Attachment 5, Governor’s FY 2022-23 Budget Request,

November 1, 2021
4

Linking Budget Requests to Evidence

Proven program High level of confidence. One or more high quality 

randomized controlled trial; multiple evaluations with strong 

comparison groups.

Evidence-informed 

program

Moderate or promising level of confidence. Evaluation with a 

comparison group; multiple pre- and post-evaluations.

Theory-informed 

program

Moderate to low or promising level of confidence. Pre- and 

post-intervention evaluation of program outcomes; evaluation 

of program outputs; identification and implementation of a 

theory of change.

Opinion-based program Low level of confidence. Satisfaction surveys; personal 

experience; no existing evidence

SB 21-284 Evidence-based Evaluations for Budget
5

Resources

● Summary of Colorado Evidence-Based Practice (Nov 1 budget letter Attachment 5)

● OSPB Research & Evidence webpage

○ OSPB Budget Instructions for FY23-24, including requirements for evidence

○ Research and Evidence Section with Training Video

○ Evaluation Grant Applications and Reports

○ Partners and more

● SMART Act and SB21-284 Evidence-Based Evaluations for Budget

● Examples of ARPA SLFRF legislation driven by evidence

○ HB22-1302 concerning behavioral health integration with primary care

○ HB21-1330 concerning wrap-around scholarships for upskilling (COSI)

○ HB 22-160 concerning mobile home ownership and land banking

● 2021 Colorado spend plan guidance including guidance for program evaluation

Contact: Edmond Toy edmond.toy@state.co.us
* DISCLAIMER: Reference to any commercial products or services in this presentation is not an endorsement or 

Government sanction of those non-Federal entities, its services or products.
2

Accountability

How will data be used to achieve 

and document equitable outcomes?

How will the target population(s) 

be represented in the execution of 

the project?

Underserved 

Communities

How does the project account for 

potentially disparate outcomes for 

underserved communities? 

Qualified Census Tracts (QCTs) are one method 

for identifying these communities. 

Historical

Disparities

How will the project mitigate or 

decrease existing and historical 

disparities?

“Equity means closing the gaps in policy, practice and allocation of City resources so 

that race, gender, religion, sexual orientations, and income do not predict one’s 

success, while also improving outcomes for all.”

1

1 Subtitle 39 – Equity Assessment Program https://legislativereference.baltimorecity.gov/sites/default/files/Art%2001%20-%20MayorCouncil_0.pdf
3
4

• Our goal is to use performance data to demonstrate equity and return on

investment

• Developed metrics for funded entities by:

• Reviewing ARPA and associated guidance

• Leveraging existing measures from other efforts (budget and strategic action

plan)

• Coordinating with funded entities on data collection feasibility for proposed

metrics

• To ensure compliance with performance management efforts, performance

measures are included in grant agreements with funded entities
5
6

• To ensure sound rationale for proposed projects, applicants were required to provide

existing research or best practices (new programs/services)

• To add capacity in data analysis and evaluation, the City of Baltimore opted to

employ a university partnership approach

• Issued an RFI to select university partners

• The City of Baltimore set aside $1.8M for research and evaluation services

• Selected the University of Baltimore and Morgan State University to leverage local

subject matter expertise
7

• Develop research on

economic impacts of

COVID-19

• Employment

• Demographics

• Industries

• Leverage existing

locally-based research

and studies

• Develop research on

peer cities and use of

SLFRF funds

• Detroit

• St. Louis

• District of Columbia

• Baltimore Co. MD

• Identify funded projects

for evaluation

• Guaranteed Income Pilot

• Small Business Wage

Subsidy Program

• Small Business/Nonprofit

Technical Assistance

• Economic Relief Fund

The City of Baltimore is leveraging its university partnerships in the following ways:
8
National Perspective

U.S. Department of the Treasury, Coronavirus State & 

Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
24

Speakers

Beth Blauer

Executive Director

Centers for Civic Impact at 

Johns Hopkins University

Jen Tolentino

Director, Local Practice

Results for America

U.S. Department of the Treasury, Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
25

SLFRF Equity & Outcomes Resource Guide: Examples

U.S. Department of the Treasury, Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
Q&A

U.S. Department of the Treasury, Coronavirus State & 

Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
27

Thank you.

For More Information about SLFRF: 

Please visit Treasury’s State & Local website 

at www.treasury.gov/SLFRF

For Media Inquiries: 

Please contact the U.S. Treasury Press Office 

at (202) 622-2960

For General Inquiries:

Please email SLFRF@treasury.gov

U.S. Department of the Treasury, Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds