Driving Equity with State and Local Fiscal 

Recovery Funds
2

Economic recovery from the pandemic is a top priority for the 

Biden-Harris Administration and the Treasury Department.

• Across the country, a strong economic recovery is taking hold, but concerted 

work is still needed to ensure that recovery is swift, equitable, and 

sustainable.

• The pandemic also laid bare the need for rapid, highly-effective 

implementation of relief programs.

• Reflecting the urgency of this work, Treasury created the new Office of 

Recovery Programs to:

▪ Implement recovery programs as expeditiously, effectively, and equitably as 

possible;

▪ Ensure a coordinated, cohesive approach – both within Treasury and with 

our partner agencies – to implementing these programs and supporting the 

recovery; and

▪ Provide accountability and transparency for outcomes in these programs.
3

An “Ambitious” Mandate

“Our country faces converging economic, health, and climate crises that have 

exposed and exacerbated inequities, while a historic movement for justice has 

highlighted the unbearable human costs of systemic racism. Our Nation deserves 

an ambitious whole-of-government equity agenda that matches the scale of the 

opportunities and challenges that we face.” –President Biden

Three key principles should ground agency activities pursuant to EO 13985:

• Advancing equity must be a core part of management and policy making 

processes. 

• Successful equity work yields tangible changes that positively impact American 

lives. 

• Equity benefits not just some of us, but all Americans. 
4

Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery 

Funds Overview

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 created the Coronavirus State and Local 

Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program to deliver $350 billion for state, territories, 

municipalities, counties, and Tribal governments much needed aid.

The key objectives for SLFRF are to: 

• Support the urgent COVID-19 response efforts to continue to decrease spread 

of the virus and bring the pandemic under control;

• Replace lost revenue for eligible recipients to strengthen support for vital 

public services and help retain jobs;

• Support an equitable recovery through immediate economic stabilization for 

households and businesses; and 

• Address systemic public health and economic challenges that have contributed 

to the inequal impact of the pandemic on certain populations.
5

State and Local Fiscal Recovery: 

Reporting Guidance

The Reporting Guidance addresses priority areas to ensure a speedy and equitable recovery. 

Equity Focused Community 

Empowering

WorkerCentered

Results and 

evidence 

focused

Detailed information on reporting requirements and deadlines is available at: 

www.treasury.gov/SLFRP
6

Activity for Participants

• Think about the highest impact service you provide.

• How do you know if those services are reaching the 

intended beneficiaries and those most in need? 

• Who else could you talk to/engage to learn more than 

you know now?
7

Panel Discussion 

• Kim Leary: Senior Equity Fellow, White House Office of 

Management and Budget (Moderator)

• Veronica Briseno: Chief Economic Recovery Officer, City 

of Austin

• Ashleigh Gardere: Executive Vice President, PolicyLink

• Leila Al-Hamoodah: Operations Advisor, Colorado 

Governor’s Office
8

Leading with Equity in Austin’s

Economic Recovery Programs 
9

Starting with Equity 

“Equity is the condition when every member of the community has a fair opportunity to live a long, healthy, and

meaningful life. Equity embedded into Austin’s values system means changing hearts and minds, transforming

local government from the inside out, eradicating disparities, and ensuring all Austin community members

share in the benefits of community progress.” - Austin Strategic Direction 2023

• The Austin City Council adopted a resolution in 2015 

directing the City Manager to evaluate the impact of 

existing city policies and practices on racial equity and 

develop an Equity Assessment Tool that can be used 

across City departments during the budget process.

• Austin established an Equity Office in 2016 to focus on 

advancing equity in all aspects of City operations. The 

first Chief Equity Officer began this work in October 

2016.

• Austin’s Chief Equity Officer is part of the City’s COVID19 Economic Recovery Core Directors Team. 
10

Economic Recovery Program Impact

• Distributed $115M through 13 programs since April 2020

• Served over 204,580 households and 1,640 businesses

• Assisted thousands of Austinites through additional 

supportive services and programs:

– Austin Civilian Conservation Corps

– Austin Mental Wellness Support Line

– Healthcare Access Program

– No-Cost Business Coaching

– Deferred City Property Tenant Payments

– Utility Disconnection Moratorium
11

Equitable Program Administration Strategies

• Translated applications to several languages including Spanish, 

Chinese, Arabic, and Vietnamese. 

• Partnered with local multi-ethnic Chambers of Commerce 

(Austin Asian, Austin Hispanic, Austin Black and Austin Gay & 

Lesbian Chambers of Commerce) to inform local businesses 

about relief opportunities. 

• Funded community-based organizations to advertise relief 

programs and help locals apply for relief opportunities. 

• Published application questions and documentation 

requirements several days before grants opened - ensuring 

applicants had time to prepare materials.

• Promoted grant programs via community-specific media outlets 

(e.g., Univision). 

• Partnered with the City of Austin's Equity Office to ensure 

guidelines did not disproportionately disadvantage business 

owners of color. 
12

Examples of Equity-Oriented Program Guidelines

The Austin Live Music Venue Preservation Fund 

required applicants to attend three racial equity 

workshops and create an Equity Strategic Plan

before receiving grants up to $40,000 a month for six 

months (not to exceed $140,000).

The Austin Non-Profit Relief Grant and the Austin 

Small Business Relief Grant scored applicants using a 

matrix that included criteria for need, vulnerability, 

and equity.

The Austin Childcare Provider Relief Grant awarded

additional grant funds to childcare operators located 

in historically marginalized communities. 

The Austin Mental Wellness Support Line provided

mental health counseling in English, Spanish, and 

over 150 other languages. 
13

Economic Recovery Program Dashboards

Launched several interactive dashboards, available at 

ATXrecovers.com:

• Austin Childcare Provider Relief Grant

• Austin Creative Space Disaster Relief Program

• Austin Economic Injury Bridge Loan Program

• Austin Music Disaster Relief Fund

• Austin Non-Profit Relief Grant

• Austin Small Business Relief Grant

Types of information includes: 

• Number of applicants

• Applicant profiles

• Applicant City Council districts

• Approval/denial rates

• Industry sectors

• And much more
14

Diverse Economic Recovery Focus Groups

• Convened diverse focus groups to inform City of Austin’s 

economic recovery and resiliency efforts: 

– Personal services (e.g., salons/barbers, cleaners, etc.)

– Manufacturing

– Experience (e.g., festivals, hospitality, nightlife, etc.)

– Creative (e.g., arts, media, entertainment, etc.)

– Food/Restaurants 

– Cross-Sector (e.g., workers rights, chambers, etc.)

• The focus groups identified 45 opportunities to foster a more 

equitable, competitive, and resilient post-pandemic economy. 
15

Driving Equity Through Data

State of Colorado
16

Build Back 

Stronger 

Listening Tour
17

Data and Evidence in State Government

17

The State Measurement for Accountable, 

Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) 

Government Act requires us to:

● Establish a performance 

management system for managing 

state agencies

● Incorporate continuous process 

improvement

● Ensure state employees are trained in 

performance management and process 

improvement

LINK to Colorado Performance Management Guidelines
18

Using an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Lens

Performance management should advance equity, diversity, and 

inclusion.

When developing your performance goals, ask yourself:

● Could this goal proposal unintentionally burden traditionally underserved or 

disadvantaged communities?

● How will this goal proposal benefit traditionally underserved or disadvantaged 

communities?

● What would the impacted communities say about your goal and its strategies, and are 

they able to provide feedback without language, accessibility, or technological 

barriers? 

● Do the impacted communities have the means to hold my agency accountable?

● What additional data will I collect to make sure my activities are benefitting a broad 

range of Coloradans and/or serving particular populations of interest?
19

Identifying Stimulus Metrics
20

10 Priorities for Advancing Racial Equity 

Through the American Rescue Plan Act

A Guide for City and County Policymakers
21

A Guide for City and County Policymakers

10 Priorities for Advancing Racial Equity Through the American Rescue Plan Act

Developed in partnership with 

community leaders, chief equity 

officers, policymakers, economic 

development practitioners, research 

and policy organizations, and 

philanthropic partners, the report 

suggests municipal strategies for 

deploying ARPA funds equitably, 

efficiently, and strategically.

Website:

https://www.policylink.org/resourcestools/american-rescue-plan-10-

priorities

December 31, 2021
22

A Guide for City and County Policymakers

American Rescue Plan Act – Equity Worksheet

The guide lays out a framework for equitable decision-making around ARPA spending and investments with 

prompts that local leaders can use to not only ask hard questions around racial equity, but also seek to address 

them.

December 31, 2021
Q&A
24

More Information

To Explore Austin’s Equity Tool: 

http://austintexas.gov/department/equity

To Explore Colorado’s Listening Tour:

https://www.buildbackstrongerco.com/

For More Information on Colorado’s 

Performance Management Guidelines:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Or51

AkWJx3BAD0NPxfPHzkJq8ZEaS3voMah9NfojI0/edit

To Explore PolicyLink’s Equity Tools and 

Resources: 

https://www.policylink.org/resourcestools/american-rescue-plan-10-priorities

For More Information on Treasury COVID-19 

Economic Relief & Recovery Programs:

https://home.treasury.gov/policyissues/coronavirus

To Request State & Local Fiscal Recovery 

Funds: 

Please visit www.treasury.gov/SLFRP

For General Inquiries on State & Local Fiscal 

Recovery Funds:

Please email SLFRP@treasury.gov