Cobb County Government 

Recovery Plan 

State and Local Fiscal Recovery 

Funds 

2021 Report 
Cobb County Government 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 1

Cobb County Government 

2021 Recovery Plan 

Table of Contents 

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

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

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

Promoting Equitable Outcomes ................................................................................................. 3 

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

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

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category ............................................................................ 4 

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

Projects .................................................................................................................................... 6 

Performance Report ................................................................................................................... 8

   
Cobb County Government 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 2

GENERAL OVERVIEW 

Executive Summary 

Cobb County’s top priorities for the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act funding is to maximize the 

economic value by helping with long-term economic recovery and growth, addressing capacity 

building, and supporting the public health response. A consulting firm will be hired in 

September 2021 to help advise the County on how to best deploy the funds across a wide 

spectrum of program priorities as well as codifying constituency and partner requests for funding 

and administering program management throughout the duration of the project. 

Uses of Funds 

Cobb County, like many other jurisdictions across the United States, has experienced significant 

strains while trying to provide increased services related to setting up emergency medical 

facilities, stand up vaccination sites, supporting struggling small businesses, and assisting 

households while also addressing the loss of local revenue. The County is still in the process of 

developing their overall plan for the use of funds, but the following Expenditure Categories have 

been addressed or considered for the use of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funds thus 

far: 

a. Public Health (EC 1) – the County has several projects for Public Health under the Capital 

Investments or Physical Plant Changes to Public Facilities and Payroll Costs for Public 

Sector Staff Responding to COVID-19. 

For the Capital Investments or Physical Plant Changes, the County has appropriated funds 

to renovate various County courtrooms to implement COVID-19 safety measures while 

facilitating court operations. The Courts have been severely impacted by COVID. Many 

constitutionally required hearings and other statutorily required duties were delayed, 

cancelled or stayed. In order to mitigate and prevent the spread of COVID, the court 

system adopted detailed protocols pursuant to health guidance. While PPE, mandatory 

masks, plexiglass barriers and other things are the most visible precautions, social 

distancing is one of the most effective but also most challenging issues to court operations. 

Courts have a legal duty to hear cases in a timely manner and sometimes within time 

periods set by state law. For criminal cases, the confrontational clause of the United States 

Constitution requires in-person confrontation of the witness against an accused. 

Courtroom improvements are further described in the Project Inventory section. 

For Payroll Costs for Public Sector Staff Responding to COVID-19, the County has 

appropriated funds for Court personnel to assist with the Emergency Rental Assistance 

Program created by the County in February 2021. Due to an increase in filing of eviction 

cases as the CDC Moratorium nears an end, the personnel will aid in the administration 

and facilitation of the rental assistance program as well as help with the planning, 

developing and implementing of additional housing stability programs such as Eviction 

Diversion. 
Cobb County Government 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 3

b. Negative Economic Impacts (EC 2) 

The County will continue to respond to the needs of those negatively impacted by COVID19 by providing food and housing assistance. Currently, the County has the Food Program 

Assistance in which local nonprofits will be able to purchase food vouchers, food boxes, 

food from food banks or pantries and distribute food. The primary goal is to distribute 

emergency food to insecure populations. 

c. Services to Disproportionately Impacted Communities (EC 3) – no projects at this time

d. Premium Pay (EC 4) – no projects at this time

e. Water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure (EC 5) – no projects at this time

f. Revenue Replacement (EC 6) – no projects at this time

In addition, the County received funding from the U.S. Department of Treasury for the 

Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERA). These funds are providing Cob County 

residents with rental and utility assistance who are affected directly or indirectly by COVID-19. 

The ERA Funds have rigorous eligibility requirements in which applicants must provide thorough 

documentation and go through a screening process. The program is for rental and utility 

assistance for renters. Applicants are eligible for up to 12 months of assistance and must meet 

income eligibility requirements and provide proof of COVID hardship. 

Promoting equitable outcomes 

The projects mentioned are in the early stages as the County works to obtain a consulting team 

to determine how to best utilize the remaining funding. Once the additional projects are 

underway, the County will also determine how to prioritize economic and racial equity for those 

negatively impacted by the economy and will report the type of assistance provided as well as 

the strategies for these projects. 

Community Engagement 

Cobb County is working with five Service Providers to disburse Emergency Rental Assistance 

funds to qualified households. Many Cobb citizens still face deep rental debt, fear evictions and 

the loss of basic housing security. Funding will help these Service Providers with administrative 

support as they assist with the distribution of rent relief funds. In addition, 28 local nonprofits 

applied for the Food Program Assistance to support the significant need for food to those 

negatively affected by COVID-19. Funding will support food vouchers, food boxes, food banks 

or pantries and for food distribution. Direct mailings will be sent to apartment residents to notify 

renters of the availability of assistance. This allows contact with over 31,000 households. 

Use of Evidence 

No current evidence-based interventions and/or projects at this time. 
Cobb County Government 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 4

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 

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 

 

2.1 Household Assistance: Food Programs 

2.2 Household Assistance: Rent, Mortgage, and 

Utility Aid 

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 
Cobb County Government 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 5

Category Cumulative 

expenditures to 

date ($) 

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan 

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

 

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 

4.1 Public Sector Employees 

4.2 Private Sector: Grants to other employers 

5 Expenditure Category: Infrastructure 

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 
Cobb County Government 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 6

Category Cumulative 

expenditures to 

date ($) 

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan 

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 

6.1 Provision of Government Services 

7 Administrative and Other 

7.1 Administrative Expenses $10,714.28 

7.2 Evaluation and data analysis 

7.3 Transfers to Other Units of Government 

7.4 Transfers to Nonentitlement Units 

(States and Territories only)

Project Inventory 

Project 

Project [Identification Number]: Grand Jury room expansion 

Funding amount: $875,000.00 

Project Expenditure Category: 1.7, Capital Investments or Physical Plant Changes to Public 

Facilities that respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency

Project overview

 Grand jury proceedings were temporarily halted due to the Georgia Judicial Emergency. 

However, in late fall of 2020, grand jury proceedings were allowed to reconvene if social 

distancing and safeguards could be taken. The necessary space is no longer available 

to allow for safe and healthy grand jury proceedings. 

 There is existing unfinished space for an additional grand jury room which will allow for 

the necessary precautions and the room will be renovated to allow for grand jury 

proceedings. 

Project 

Project [Identification Number]: Superior Court 12th jury trial courtroom (5th) build-out 

Funding amount: $1,125,000.00 

Project Expenditure Category: 1.7, Capital Investments or Physical Plant Changes to Public 

Facilities that respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency 
Cobb County Government 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 7

Project overview

 Superior Court handles contested criminal matters that cannot be done virtually. The 

existing courtrooms were designed purposefully small. Thus, in order to conduct a 

socially distanced trial, live stream to a second courtroom is required. This substantially 

impacts the efficiency of the courthouse. In order to more timely resolve the current 

backlog, an additional courtroom is needed to conduct more than two jury trials 

simultaneously while allowing for remaining courtrooms to conduct non-jury matters. 

Project 

Project [Identification Number]: Superior Court multi-purpose courtroom 

Funding amount: $840,000.00 

Project Expenditure Category: 1.7, Capital Investments or Physical Plant Changes to Public 

Facilities that respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency 

Project overview

 Superior Court is experiencing a logistical space challenge as the more complex, 

lengthier trials with multiple defendants spill over into a second week. A multi-purpose 

courtroom will be built on the fourth floor with a holding cell. This room can also be 

utilized for bench trials, public viewing areas, jury deliberation room and a meeting room. 

Project 

Project [Identification Number]: Magistrate renovation 

Funding amount: $625,000.00 

Project Expenditure Category: 1.7, Capital Investments or Physical Plant Changes to Public 

Facilities that respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency 

Project overview

 There is a current backlog of cases due to the needs for social distancing with new 

filings increasing. In order to meet tight statutory timelines and maintain adherence to 

public health guidelines, the renovation for Magistrate court consists of two courtrooms. 

The renovation also includes the reconfiguration of spaces with the Clerk’s office and 

mediation areas to fully allow for social distancing and the protection of Cobb citizens 

and staff. 

Project 

Project [Identification Number]: Probate courtroom 

Funding amount: $492,800.00 

Project Expenditure Category: 1.7, Capital Investments or Physical Plant Changes to Public 

Facilities that respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency 

Project overview

 In order to handle increased demands of the Estates Division and to meet the current 

health guidelines, it is necessary to reconfigure the second courtroom to use as a nonjury courtroom. 
Cobb County Government 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 8

Project 

Project [Identification Number]: Food Program Assistance 

Funding amount: $1,575,000 

Project Expenditure Category: 2.1, Household Assistance: Food Programs 

Project overview

 Food assistance for Cobb citizens continues to be an urgent need. Providing this 

assistance will alleviate some of the economic and emotional tolls on the families in 

need. $1,500,000 will be available to nonprofits and awarded on an application basis. 

Funds can be used to for the purchase of food vouchers, food boxes, food from food 

banks or pantries and for food distribution. 

 $75,000 will go towards the administration services for the food allocation to develop the 

grant application, conduct the application reviews and general monitoring and oversight 

of the program until the funds are fully reimbursed and expended. 

Project 

Project [Identification Number]: Court Personnel and Technology

Funding amount: $1,778,429.16 

Project Expenditure Category: 1.9, Payroll Costs for Public Health, Safety, and Other Public 

Sector Staff Responding to COVID-19 

Project overview

 To create positions and extend temporary positions to reduce the COVID-19 pandemic 

related case backlog, assist with Mediation and to serve as a critical bridge between 

tenants most at risk for eviction, the landlords that need aid and the approved County 

Service Providers charged with administering the Emergency Rental Assistance 

Program. 

 Magistrate Court has been assisting with the County’s Emergency Rental Assistance 

Program. To aid in getting the assistance to those in need, the Magistrate Court 

provides information to parties to direct them where assistance is available both before 

and during hearings, coordinates with Service Providers to provide court case 

information and provides space and resources to the Service Providers. 

Performance Report 

 As the County moves forward with any future projects, those that involve funding for 

individuals negatively impacted by their current economic situation will be presented with 

performance data to include race, ethnicity, gender, income, and other relevant factors, if 

possible.