Mecklenburg County, NC

Recovery Plan 

State and Local Fiscal Recovery 

Funds

2021 Report
Mecklenburg County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 1

Mecklenburg County

2021 Recovery Plan

Table of Contents

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

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

Uses of Funds .........................................................................................................................2

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

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

Labor Practices .......................................................................................................................4

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

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

Project Inventory.......................................................................................................................5
Mecklenburg County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 2

GENERAL OVERVIEW

Executive Summary 

Mecklenburg County (The County) was awarded approximately $215.67M in State and Local 

Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF). The first tranche of $107.8M has been received and will be 

resourced within an initial framework that offers an opportunity to support a more resilient postpandemic community. In order to achieve equitable outcomes, the County will continue to 

engage the community through a variety of town halls and public surveys.

The Proposed Framework 1.0 incorporates seven pillars for investment that will support a strong 

and equitable economic recovery that aligns with funding eligible uses.

Framework Pillars

• Access

• Child & Family Stability

• College & Career Readiness

• Environment

• Homelessness Services

• Mental Health

• Workforce Development

This report provides information on the developmental stage of the County’s recovery plan. 

Additional phases (or modifications) of the framework will be developed, approved, and 

implemented while also being responsive to community needs.

Uses of Funds

The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved the Proposed Framework 1.0 to guide 

ARPA funding investments. The framework is expected to address the specific needs of our 

community, while also ensuring alignment to the SLFRF eligible categories (to the extent 

applicable):

• Public Health

• Negative Economic Impacts

• Services to Disproportionately Impacted Communities

• Premium Pay

• Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure

• Revenue Replacement
Mecklenburg County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 3

An important component of the County’s next steps in determining use of funds is the 

development of a proposed, comprehensive strategy to relief efforts. The approach will be 

designed over the next several months by a workgroup of County staff led by a Deputy County 

Manager and includes key personnel from Strategic Planning, Health and Human Services, 

Finance, Intergovernmental Affairs, and the Manager’s Office. It is anticipated that the approach 

will engage the community, assess community needs, prioritize relief efforts, identity equitable 

outcomes, and align to evidenced-based interventions. The County Manager and Board of 

County Commissioners will provide final direction and approval.

Pending final guidance from Treasury, the County will determine if there are any allowable 

revenue losses.

Emergency Relief Assistance (ERA) Uses

In addition to resourcing SLFRF funds to address the negative impacts from COVID-19, 

Mecklenburg County is utilizing ERA funds to support the community’s housing and utility 

needs. 

The County received two direct ERA installments from the federal government for a total of 

approximately $12.1M. 

• The Federal ERA1 installment of $6.7M has been expended, with $6.1M directly 

supporting rent and utility costs for residents.

• The County received the Federal ERA 2 installment of $5.4M and is continuing to work

to distribute the funds, with $4.9M set to directly support rent and utility relief costs.

The County has also finalized a contract with the State and expects to receive the first allocation 

of State ERA 1 funds in the next couple of weeks. The total amount for State ERA 1 funds is 
Mecklenburg County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 4

$27.7M. The State ERA 2 funding amount confirmation and allocation is anticipated after State 

ERA 1 funds are exhausted.

Promoting equitable outcomes 

In respond to the COVID-19 crisis, the County has adjusted its standard operating procedures 

to counteract the historical inequalities that shape outcomes for people, remove the burdens 

and barriers of structural racism, and rebuild a resilient community. Part of the adjustment 

includes the development of a COVID-19 Response Guidebook that offers a Racial Equity 

Toolkit to apply in policy, program, and budget decision-making processes. The Toolkit is used 

in all actions and decisions made relating to COVID-19 response efforts to facilitate 

consideration of racial and economic equity, promoting equitable outcomes, and examining how 

communities will be affected, both short-term and long-term.

Additional details will be provided in future Recovery Plan updates.

Community Engagement 

The Mecklenburg County COVID-19 Renewal and Recovery Task Force was created by the 

Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on June 2, 2020. The Task Force was 

charged to develop a recovery and renewal plan that incorporated a series of virtual town halls 

to engage residents and solicit input on its proposed comprehensive Recovery and Renewal 

Plan of Action. The Plan of Action will be presented to the BOCC on September 7, 2021. Town 

Hall attendees had an opportunity to provide feedback on the recommendations, as well as 

learn about the process that led to the draft proposals. 

In addition, the County residents are invited to share their perspectives and suggestions via the 

Mecklenburg County COVID-19 Recovery and Renewal Task Force Community Survey.

Task Force Next Steps

• Build awareness of draft recommendations through community participation.

• Review draft recommendations with experts and the community.

• Board of County Commissioners reviews draft recommendations on Sept 7.

• Approval of final recommendations on Sept 21.

• Timelines and progress indicators created for adopted recommendations.

• Implementation of adopted recommendations.

Overall community engagement efforts will continue, including collaborative efforts with the 

County’s Business Roundtable and Nonprofit Executive Leadership Council.

The County will assess the information from the community engagement as part of the 

development of the next phase of relief program planning. 

Labor Practices 

The County will use strong labor standards to promote effective and efficient delivery of highquality relief programs. 
Mecklenburg County 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 5

Use of Evidence 

Use of evidence details are being developed and will be provided in future Recovery Plan 

reports.

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category

Expenses by Expenditure Category will be provided in future Recovery Plan reports.

Project Inventory 

Project Inventory and Performance Report details are being developed and will be provided in 

future Recovery Plan reports.