County of Berks, Pennsylvania

Recovery Plan 

State and Local Fiscal Recovery 

Funds

2021 Report
County of Berks, Pennsylvania 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 1

County of Berks, Pennsylvania

2021 Recovery Plan

Table of Contents

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

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

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

Promoting Equitable Outcomes ...............................................................................................2

Community Engagement .........................................................................................................3

Labor Practices .......................................................................................................................3

Use of Evidence ......................................................................................................................3

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category...........................................................................6

Project Inventory.......................................................................................................................6

Performance Report..................................................................................................................6
County of Berks, Pennsylvania 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 2

GENERAL OVERVIEW

Executive Summary 

Berks County will be receiving $81.68 M. At the end of May, the County received 50% of its 

allocation in the amount of $40,903,085. One year after receipt of the first tranche of funds, we 

will anticipate receiving the remaining 50%. The County will have until December 31, 2024 to 

obligate these funds, and until December 31, 2026 to expend the funds. 

In addition to the County’s allocation:

Berks County municipalities will be receiving a total of $96.7 M

Berks County School Districts will be receiving a total of $160.3 M.

Use of Funds

The Berks County Commissioners are committed to the effective and purposeful deployment of 

these resources into our community and has established the following process: 

Berks County American Rescue Planning (ARP) Committees

Purpose: To oversee a cross-community collaborative approach for impactful investment in 

Berks County that addresses the needs of our residents and the vulnerabilities of our economy. 

Responsibilities: Each Commissioner will Chair a Committee that is an Area of Focus. These 

committees may be further broken down into sub-committees as may be determined by the 

Chair to address the details of specific activities or areas of specialization. There will be 

consideration given to:

1. Identify short-term, mid-term, and long-term objectives

2. Funding that is appropriate to meet the identified needs and objectives

3. Long- term benefit and legacy improvements

4. Coordination of funding resources and with other organizations/local government to 

avoid duplicity of efforts.

5. Determine which projects/programs/activities will be most impactful and assign priority.

At the discretion of the Chair, there may be additional resource partners that will be asked to 

attend one or more meetings to provide real-time relevant data on funding sources, identified 

resident, community, and/or business needs. 
County of Berks, Pennsylvania 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 3

Time Frame: It is anticipated that the information-gathering and prioritization phases may take 

from 2 – 6 months prior to allocating any ARP funds. 

NOTE: this will not preclude the consideration of urgent need requests to appropriately address 

the pandemic and the health and well-being of Berks County residents and the community. 

Outcomes: Berks County effectively utilizes ARP funds; leveraging available resources and 

collaborating with community partners to ensure the maximum level of positive and lasting 

impact for our residents. 

Administrative Committee

CAO

This committee will be responsible for reviewing and assigning time and resources to address 

unforeseen situations that might arise in the future or otherwise not covered by other 

Committees. 

Community Engagement 

Community Support Committee

 Commissioner Barnhardt

This Committee will review workforce issues, food insecurity, homelessness, affordable 

housing, MH, health inequities and identify any unmet social service support needs. In addition, 

this committee will evaluate and study Community Health Needs. 

Labor Practices

The Business Response Committee

Commissioner Rivera 

This Committee will review the programs offered to support businesses to date and determine if 

there are unmet needs. This will include small businesses, Main Streets, Tourism, Hospitality, 

and manufacturing operations. 

Special Projects and Infrastructure Committee 

 Commissioner Leinbach

This Committee will review and assess Transportation, Broadband, Water and Sewer, and 

Special Projects – which may include, but not be limited to Housing, and Arts and Culture.

Use of Evidence
County of Berks, Pennsylvania 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 4

County Operations - Assessment and Needs Committee

Senior Leadership

This Committee will assess and document the negative financial impact on the County budget 

and operations as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The intent will be to 

lessen any negative or additional tax burden on residents. 

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category

Category Cumulative

expenditures to 

date ($)

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan

1 Expenditure Category: Public Health

1.1 COVID-19 Vaccination $0 $0

1.2 COVID-19 Testing $0 $0

1.3 COVID-19 Contact Tracing $0 $0

1.4 Prevention in Congregate Settings (Nursing 

Homes, Prisons/Jails, Dense Work Sites, 

Schools, etc.)

$0 $0

1.5 Personal Protective Equipment $0 $0

1.6 Medical Expenses (including Alternative Care 

Facilities)

$0 $0

1.7 Capital Investments or Physical Plant Changes 

to Public Facilities that respond to the COVID19 public health emergency

$0 $0

1.8 Other COVID-19 Public Health Expenses 

(including Communications, Enforcement, 

Isolation/Quarantine)

$0 $0

1.9 Payroll Costs for Public Health, Safety, and 

Other Public Sector Staff Responding to 

COVID-19

$0 $0

1.10 Mental Health Services $0 $0

1.11 Substance Use Services $0 $0

1.12 Other Public Health Services $0 $0

2 Expenditure Category: Negative Economic 

Impacts

2.1 Household Assistance: Food Programs $0 $0

2.2 Household Assistance: Rent, Mortgage, and 

Utility Aid 

$0 $0

2.3 Household Assistance: Cash Transfers $0 $0

2.4 Household Assistance: Internet Access 

Programs

$0 $0

2.5 Household Assistance: Eviction Prevention $0 $0

2.6 Unemployment Benefits or Cash Assistance to 

Unemployed Workers

$0 $0
County of Berks, Pennsylvania 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 5

Category Cumulative

expenditures to 

date ($)

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan

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

Supports or Incentives)

$0 $0

2.8 Contributions to UI Trust Funds* $0 $0

2.9 Small Business Economic Assistance (General) $0 $0

2.10 Aid to nonprofit organizations $0 $0

2.11 Aid to Tourism, Travel, or Hospitality $0 $0

2.12 Aid to Other Impacted Industries $0 $0

2.13 Other Economic Support $0 $0

2.14 Rehiring Public Sector Staff $0 $0

3 Expenditure Category: Services to 

Disproportionately Impacted Communities

3.1 Education Assistance: Early Learning $0 $0

3.2 Education Assistance: Aid to High-Poverty 

Districts

$0 $0

3.3 Education Assistance: Academic Services $0 $0

3.4 Education Assistance: Social, Emotional, and 

Mental Health Services 

$0 $0

3.5 Education Assistance: Other $0 $0

3.6 Healthy Childhood Environments: Child Care $0 $0

3.7 Healthy Childhood Environments: Home Visiting $0 $0

3.8 Healthy Childhood Environments: Services to 

Foster Youth or Families Involved in Child 

Welfare System 

$0 $0

3.9. Healthy Childhood Environments: Other $0 $0

3.10 Housing Support: Affordable Housing $0 $0

3.11 Housing Support: Services for Unhoused 

persons 

$0 $0

3.12 Housing Support: Other Housing Assistance $0 $0

3.13 Social Determinants of Health: Other $0 $0

3.14 Social Determinants of Health: Community 

Health Workers or Benefits Navigators 

$0 $0

3.15 Social Determinants of Health: Lead 

Remediation

$0 $0

3.16 Social Determinants of Health: Community 

Violence Interventions 

$0 $0

4 Expenditure Category: Premium Pay

4.1 Public Sector Employees $0 $0

4.2 Private Sector: Grants to other employers $0 $0

5 Expenditure Category: Infrastructure

5.1 Clean Water: Centralized wastewater treatment $0 $0

5.2 Clean Water: Centralized wastewater collection 

and conveyance

$0 $0
County of Berks, Pennsylvania 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 6

Category Cumulative

expenditures to 

date ($)

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan

5.3 Clean Water: Decentralized wastewater $0 $0

5.4 Clean Water: Combined sewer overflows $0 $0

5.5 Clean Water: Other sewer infrastructure $0 $0

5.6 Clean Water: Stormwater $0 $0

5.7 Clean Water: Energy conservation $0 $0

5.8 Clean Water: Water conservation $0 $0

5.9 Clean Water: Nonpoint source $0 $0

5.10 Drinking water: Treatment $0 $0

5.11 Drinking water: Transmission & distribution $0 $0

5.12 Drinking water: Transmission & distribution: 

lead remediation

$0 $0

5.13 Drinking water: Source $0 $0

5.14 Drinking water: Storage $0 $0

5.15 Drinking water: Other water infrastructure $0 $0

5.16 Broadband: “Last Mile” projects $0 $0

5.17 Broadband: Other projects $0 $0

6 Expenditure Category: Revenue Replacement

6.1 Provision of Government Services $0 $0

7 Administrative and Other

7.1 Administrative Expenses $0 $0

7.2 Evaluation and data analysis $0 $0

7.3 Transfers to Other Units of Government $0 $0

7.4 Transfers to Nonentitlement Units 

(States and Territories only)

$0 $0

Project Inventory 

The County is in the information gathering stage to see where it is best and most efficient to 

deploy its ARP funds. At this time, the County has not finalized any projects that have been 

expended or incurred any inventory.

Performance Report

Since there have been no finalized projects and we are still in the information gathering 

stage, there are no performance reports to provide.