Anoka County, Minnesota

Recovery Plan 

State and Local Fiscal Recovery 

Funds

2021 Report
Anoka County, Minnesota 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 1

Anoka County, Minnesota 

2021 Recovery Plan

Table of Contents

General Overview......................................................................................................................2

Executive Summary.................................................................................................................2

Uses of Funds .........................................................................................................................3

Promoting Equitable Outcomes ...............................................................................................4

Community Engagement .........................................................................................................4

Labor Practices .......................................................................................................................5

Use of Evidence ......................................................................................................................5

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category...........................................................................5

Project Inventory.......................................................................................................................7
Anoka County, Minnesota 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 2

GENERAL OVERVIEW

Executive Summary

On March 11, 2021, the President of the Unites States signed into law the American Rescue 

Plan Act (ARPA) to provide continued relief from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As 

part of ARPA, $350 billion of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) were allotted to 

assist governments in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on their 

communities. Anoka County was allotted just over $69.8 million of SLFRF to assist its 

community in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts. Under ARPA, the funds 

provided are planned to support Anoka County’s community broadly in accordance with The US 

Department of the Treasury Guidelines by: 

• Providing support for public health expenditures 

• Addressing negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency 

• Replacement of lost public sector revenue 

• Providing premium pay for essential workers 

• Investing in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure

Anoka County recognizes the significant impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had within our 

community and is taking a very proactive approach in developing the uses for these funds that 

address the impact and serve all the county’s residents:

• On August 24, 2021, the County Board by resolution officially accepted receipt of these 

funds pledging to follow the guidelines as set forth by the U.S. Department of the 

Treasury. 

• On August 24, 2021, the County Board by resolution established budget allocations for 

ARPA Funds in the following broad categories: 

 Public health - $12 million

 Negative economic impact – to be determined

 Services to disproportionately impacted communities - to be determined

 Infrastructure - $3.1 million

 Revenue replacement - $18.6 million

 Grant administration - $1 million

 Unallocated - $35.1 million

• Budget allocations will by adjusted by County Board resolution within the above 

categories as projects are identified and approved. 

• The county administrator has developed an ARPA Governance Task Force that includes 

a cross-section of leaders from various departments throughout the county. This task 

force will meet as needed and review all requests prior to submission to the County 

Board for approval. 

• Additionally, all projects will be vetted for compliance with ARPA guidelines prior to 

submission to the ARPA Governance Task Force by a compliance team, consisting of 

County Administration, Finance & Central Services, and the County Attorney’s Office. 
Anoka County, Minnesota 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 3

• ARPA information on the county’s plan will be provided on the county’s ARPA Web page

located at - https://www.anokacounty.us/AnokaCountyAnnualRecoveryPlan

Anoka County is still in its first phase of planning and has not obligated or spent any of the State

and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) under ARPA as of July 31, 2021. Preliminary

discussions with the County Board have identified some needs and options that will be pursued.

This fall, the county will continue to lay the foundation for developing priorities and community

outreach in relation to the uses of SLFRF.

Uses of Funds

The Anoka County Board in an informational workshop, identified the following as initial

priorities for consideration. Some funding has been allocated; however, it continues to be

subject to modification as specific projects are identified and approved by the County Board.

Public Health

Anoka County plans to designate funds to mitigate COVID-19 by supporting public health 

initiatives throughout the county. Currently, the Anoka County Board has allocated $12 million 

for this category, in which the following options are being considered: 

• Continued support for our Public Health and Public Safety workforce that are involved

with the COVID-19 related activities.

• Support for healthcare costs related to the community and employees that have bene

directly impacted

• Continued prevention and mitigation of COVID-19 through ongoing purchases of

personal protective equipment and needed facility modifications.

• Enhanced behavioral and mental health care programs for both employees and citizens

• Improved and re-designed execution of health and public programs to serve citizens

• Address health disparities within our county

Negative Economic Impacts

Anoka County intends on addressing the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 

pandemic within the community as follows: 

• Assisting small business and non-profits with technical support resources

• Providing assistance to unemployed workers through our Career Force Center

• Addressing park maintenance issues related to overuse from the community that has

and continues to occur.

• Addressing public safety response to increased community violence

• Addressing court service backlogs that are related to the pandemic
Anoka County, Minnesota 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 4

Services to Disproportionately Impacted Communities

Anoka County intends on servicing communities that have been more severely impacted by the 

COVID-19 pandemic by providing: 

• Services and programs directed towards working with populations who are homeless

• Development of community outreach programs, targeting mental health and other needs

• Increased maintenance and updates to areas such as parks that serve impacted 

communities 

• Developing a strategic plan to identify and address community resources and economic 

development needs of the communities disproportionately impacted

Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure 

Anoka County has currently allocated $3.1 million to provide a matching grant opportunity to our 

cities and township for projects that provide Broadband expansion to unserved and underserved 

areas of our community. The matching grant process is currently under development. 

Revenue Replacement

Anoka County has suffered an economic loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic and intends on 

claiming the revenue lost due to the pandemic (in accordance with the treasury guidance) to 

invest into the community. Potential areas where Anoka County would invest the funds from the 

revenue loss include upgrades to cybersecurity and the construction of new public safety 

buildings. Anoka County is currently estimating this category will provide $18.6 million over the 

four-year calculation period, however, the 2020 final loss that can be captured is expected to be 

around $3.85 million. This category will be adjusted as final numbers become available 

throughout the reporting period. 

Unallocated

With the continued changing dynamic of the impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 

Anoka County Board of Commissioners will continue to evaluate and engage the community as 

it determines how to allocate the remaining $35.1 million in funds. 

Promoting equitable outcomes 

Projects related to promoting equitable outcomes are under development.

Community Engagement 

Anoka County received some feedback from some non-profit groups at its Finance Committee 

meeting in July. Currently, the county is planning some outreach through its Human Services 

Division and is exploring the development of a community survey to gather a fair cross-section 

of citizen input. Anoka County recognizes it is vital that community feedback remain a central 
Anoka County, Minnesota 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 5

theme throughout this process and continues to consider additional methods for obtaining 

feedback throughout the performance period. 

Labor Practices 

Projects for infrastructure will address labor practices within their plans as they are adopted and 

in accordance with U.S. Treasury Guidance. 

Use of Evidence 

Projects in categories that require an evidence-based approach will be provided in the project 

plans during Anoka County Board adoption of the plan. 

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category

Category Cumulative

expenditures to 

date ($)

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan

1 Expenditure Category: Public Health $0 $0

1.1 COVID-19 Vaccination

1.2 COVID-19 Testing

1.3 COVID-19 Contact Tracing

1.4 Prevention in Congregate Settings (Nursing 

Homes, Prisons/Jails, Dense Work Sites, 

Schools, etc.)

1.5 Personal Protective Equipment

1.6 Medical Expenses (including Alternative Care 

Facilities)

1.7 Capital Investments or Physical Plant Changes 

to Public Facilities that respond to the COVID19 public health emergency

1.8 Other COVID-19 Public Health Expenses 

(including Communications, Enforcement, 

Isolation/Quarantine)

1.9 Payroll Costs for Public Health, Safety, and 

Other Public Sector Staff Responding to 

COVID-19

1.10 Mental Health Services

1.11 Substance Use Services

1.12 Other Public Health Services

2 Expenditure Category: Negative Economic 

Impacts

$0 $0

2.1 Household Assistance: Food Programs 

2.2 Household Assistance: Rent, Mortgage, and 

Utility Aid 
Anoka County, Minnesota 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 6

Category Cumulative

expenditures to 

date ($)

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan

2.3 Household Assistance: Cash Transfers 

2.4 Household Assistance: Internet Access 

Programs

2.5 Household Assistance: Eviction Prevention

2.6 Unemployment Benefits or Cash Assistance to 

Unemployed Workers

2.7 Job Training Assistance (e.g., Sectoral jobtraining, Subsidized Employment, Employment 

Supports or Incentives)

2.8 Contributions to UI Trust Funds*

2.9 Small Business Economic Assistance (General)

2.10 Aid to nonprofit organizations

2.11 Aid to Tourism, Travel, or Hospitality

2.12 Aid to Other Impacted Industries

2.13 Other Economic Support 

2.14 Rehiring Public Sector Staff

3 Expenditure Category: Services to 

Disproportionately Impacted Communities

$0 $0

3.1 Education Assistance: Early Learning 

3.2 Education Assistance: Aid to High-Poverty 

Districts

3.3 Education Assistance: Academic Services 

3.4 Education Assistance: Social, Emotional, and 

Mental Health Services 

3.5 Education Assistance: Other 

3.6 Healthy Childhood Environments: Child Care 

3.7 Healthy Childhood Environments: Home Visiting 

3.8 Healthy Childhood Environments: Services to 

Foster Youth or Families Involved in Child 

Welfare System 

3.9. Healthy Childhood Environments: Other 

3.10 Housing Support: Affordable Housing 

3.11 Housing Support: Services for Unhoused 

persons 

3.12 Housing Support: Other Housing Assistance 

3.13 Social Determinants of Health: Other 

3.14 Social Determinants of Health: Community 

Health Workers or Benefits Navigators 

3.15 Social Determinants of Health: Lead 

Remediation

3.16 Social Determinants of Health: Community 

Violence Interventions 

4 Expenditure Category: Premium Pay $0 $0
Anoka County, Minnesota 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 7

Category Cumulative

expenditures to 

date ($)

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan

4.1 Public Sector Employees

4.2 Private Sector: Grants to other employers 

5 Expenditure Category: Infrastructure $0 $0

5.1 Clean Water: Centralized wastewater treatment

5.2 Clean Water: Centralized wastewater collection 

and conveyance

5.3 Clean Water: Decentralized wastewater

5.4 Clean Water: Combined sewer overflows

5.5 Clean Water: Other sewer infrastructure

5.6 Clean Water: Stormwater

5.7 Clean Water: Energy conservation

5.8 Clean Water: Water conservation

5.9 Clean Water: Nonpoint source 

5.10 Drinking water: Treatment

5.11 Drinking water: Transmission & distribution

5.12 Drinking water: Transmission & distribution: 

lead remediation

5.13 Drinking water: Source

5.14 Drinking water: Storage 

5.15 Drinking water: Other water infrastructure

5.16 Broadband: “Last Mile” projects

5.17 Broadband: Other projects

6 Expenditure Category: Revenue Replacement $0 $0

6.1 Provision of Government Services

7 Administrative and Other $0 $0

7.1 Administrative Expenses 

7.2 Evaluation and data analysis 

7.3 Transfers to Other Units of Government

7.4 Transfers to Non entitlement Units 

(States and Territories only)

PROJECT INVENTORY

No Projects have been started as of July 31, 2021. 

Performance Report 

Goals, measures, outputs, and outcomes will be prepared during project development and 

tracked as the projects are implemented. As of July 31, 2021, no projects have been 

implemented.