Recovery Plan Performance Report

State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds

2021

Pennsylvania
Bucks County, Pennsylvania 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 1

Bucks County, Pennsylvania

2021 Recovery Plan

Table of Contents

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

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

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

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

Community and Business Engagement ..................................................................................................5

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

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

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

Project Inventory ..........................................................................................................................8

Projects ...................................................................................................................................................8

Performance Report ...............................................................................................................................8
Bucks County, Pennsylvania 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 2

GENERAL OVERVIEW

Executive Summary 

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319) is a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package passed by Congress, 

signed by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and related 

economic challenges. First proposed on January 14, 2021, the package builds upon many of the measures in the 

CARES Act of 2020, and in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, including $350 billion in state and local aid

to municipalities and counties through the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) to support 

immediate pandemic response, address economic fallout and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable 

recovery.

Bucks County government was awarded $122,034,082 of SLFRF and received the first 50 percent payment of 

$61,071,041 on May 19, 2021. The County should receive the second 50 percent payment of $61,071,041 on or 

after May 19, 2022. Funds must be incurred by December 31, 2024 and expended by December 21, 2026. This 

project is being supported by Federal Award Number (FAIN SLFRP0222) awarded to the County of Bucks by the 

U.S. Department of the Treasury.

County Recovery Plan Report

Our County is committed to utilizing the ARPA funding in an innovative and equitable manner. We will listen to our

residents, community and business partners, and research best practices and leverage all other financial resources

to develop impactful initiatives and investments in infrastructure that will have a long-term, measurable and 

sustainable impact. The plan will contain detailed information on funding allocations and eligible expenditures, 

program initiatives and outcomes, and service level indicators for pandemic relief efforts provided to residents 

and businesses alike.

Recovery Efforts to Date

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020, the Bucks County Board of Commissioners, along 

with its County Department of Health, Emergency Services, Housing and Community Development, Workforce and

Economic Development, and various Human Services agencies, have deployed millions of dollars in federal, state,

and local assistance to address the impact of the pandemic on residents, businesses, and organizations throughout 

the County. The chart below provides an aggregate of the funding utilized in these efforts:

While much work has been accomplished through the use of CARES Act funding, Bucks County is grateful to have 

the financial resources through the ARPA to continue to address the many challenges it faces in managing the 

impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The public will be able to follow our initiatives and expenditures through this 

report, to learn the programs developed and how investments will provide a positive and long lasting impact in our 

community.
Bucks County, Pennsylvania 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 3

Uses of Funds

The County intends to use its allocation of ARPA funds in the following areas: 

a. Public Health

b. Negative Economic Impacts

c. Services to Disproportionately Impacted Communities

d. Premium Pay

e. Water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure

f. Revenue Replacement

Project plans within each of the above categories will be identified and included in this plan as approved by 

the Bucks County Board of Commissioners.

The plan will remain flexible and be revised as additional Treasury guidance is received, information is 

obtained, and priorities are identified. Program expenditures will be evaluated on a regular basis throughout 

the grant program period between March 3, 2021 and December 31, 2024. The County will continue to use 

its accounting consultant to assist with fiscal and eligibility compliance in use of ARPA funds.

Programs Using Other ARPA Funds

Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERA) - The ERA program makes funding available to assist households 

unable to pay rent or utilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two separate federal programs were 

established: ERA1 provided up to $25 billion under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, enacted on 

December 27, 2020, and ERA2 provided up to $21.55 billion under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, 

enacted on March 11, 2021.

The Bucks County Rental Assistance Program (BERA) provides rental and utility assistance to eligible Bucks 

County tenants. BERA program activities to date are provided below:

- $11,368,390.34 has been spent in financial assistance to households and $1,067,893.55 in 

administrative/housing stability services to total $12,436,283.89 spent through all ERAP sources to date

- 1,267 households served with financial assistance through the program

- 49% (625) of households served are under 30% area median income (AMI)

- 32% (395) of households served are Black or African American, 51% (641) White, 7% (95) Multi-Racial, 2% 

(29) Asian, less than 1% (11) American Indian or Native Hawaiian, and 7% (96) refused or data not 

collected 

- 10% (132) of households served identify as Hispanic/Latino

- 64% (807) of households served have a female head of household

Please visit the site for program details: https://www.buckscounty.gov/828/Emergency-Rental-AssistanceBERA
Bucks County, Pennsylvania 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 4

Promoting Equitable Outcomes 

Bucks County programs will be designed to promote equitable outcomes, advancing racial equity and support 

for underserved communities and vulnerable populations, specifically communities within social vulnerability 

tracts shown below and defined by the Center for Disease Control’s Social Vulnerability Index (CDC SVI). 

Accordingly, communities must prepare for and respond to natural or human-caused disasters, or disease 

outbreaks. Reducing social vulnerability can decrease both human suffering and economic loss. A number of 

factors, including poverty, lack of access to transportation and housing may weaken a community’s ability to 

prevent human suffering and financial loss in a pandemic or disaster. These factors are known as social 

vulnerability. CDC SVI uses U.S. Census data to determine the social vulnerability of every census tract. 

Census tracts are subdivisions of counties for which the Census collects statistical data. CDC SVI ranks each 

tract on 15 social factors and groups them into four related themes. Each tract receives a separate ranking 

for each of the four themes as well as an overall ranking (see map below).

Bucks County will focus its efforts on providing services and programs to address the negative economic 

impacts of the pandemic which have been most severe among low-income, high-poverty populations through 

strategic targeted programs and improvements to existing services within identified areas of most need 

utilizing the CDC SVI. Outcomes will be achieved and reported accordingly.
Bucks County, Pennsylvania 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 5

Community and Business Engagement 

The County issued a COVID-19 needs assessment survey to its diverse nonprofit service provider network in 

early June 2021. A roundtable discussion was held with the providers to review survey results and prioritize 

current and future funding-based needs. Below is a listing of the highest areas of concern discussed:

Behavioral Health & Developmental Support Child Welfare and Foster Care

Affordable Housing Domestic Violence

Premium Pay Food Security

Substance Use Treatment Healthcare for Children

Increase Salaries of Social Services Staff Healthy Childhood Environment

Health Disparities Additional Training for Workers

Public Health Negative Economic Impacts from COVID

Transportation Re-entry of the Incarcerated

Childcare Translation Services

Employment Support Schools

Education Disparities Vaccine Incentives

Homelessness Juvenile Probations Office/Community Based Supports

Lost Revenue Credit Rating Support

Technology/Internet Upgrades Facility Improvements

Our community non-profit service providers will develop program and project funding proposals based on 

the above identified areas of need. Proposals will be evaluated and funded according to criteria developed to 

serve individuals with significant barriers to services, including people of color, people with low incomes, 

limited English proficiency populations, and other underserved individuals with barriers.

In addition, the County will be hosting a roundtable event in September 2021, for our business community to 

discuss current economic recovery efforts as well as eligibility criteria to access the County’s “Bucks Back to 

Work” $5mm business grant program.

Labor Practices 

Workforce practices and labor standards in place by the county will result in high-quality infrastructure 

projects. These practices and standards were in place in the County prior to receipt of the ARPA funds and 

will continue to be utilized in the execution of this plan. Davis-Bacon and related Acts, legally required for all 

federally funded projects, will be applied to infrastructure projects constructed using ARPA funds. The County 

has historically used Davis Bacon wages in all federally funded contracts with contractors and subcontractors. 

Davis-Bacon as well as our Responsible Contractor’s Ordinance language will be incorporated into all 

contracts so that employees performing work on ARPA funded projects are receiving required wage rates for 

their labor.

Use of Evidence 

Evidence-based program evaluations are valuable instruments of public programs or services. These tools can 

provide the ability to apply scientific, tested and proven methods of service delivery or allow for evaluation of

intended outcomes. The County continues to evaluate the best potential use of funds and “Use of Evidence”

requirements. To date, the County will be requiring all partner providers, sub recipients, or contractors to 

describe goals, evidence basis, and projected outcomes for awarded project(s).
Bucks County, Pennsylvania 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 6

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category

The use of ARPA funds will include support for Bucks County’s public health response, areas of negative 

economic impact, premium pay for essential workers, and water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure with 

primary focus on services to disproportionately impacted communities. The table below will be updated as 

projects commence and funds are expended in the applicable categories.

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 COVID-19 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 job-training, 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

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 
Bucks County, Pennsylvania 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 7

Category Cumulative

expenditures 

to date ($)

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan

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

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 

7.2 Evaluation and data analysis 

7.3 Transfers to Other Units of Government

7.4 Transfers to Nonentitlement Units 

(States and Territories only)
Bucks County, Pennsylvania 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 8

Project Inventory

The County does not have active projects to report on for this period and no expenditures through July 31, 

2021.

Performance Report

The County does not have active projects to report on for this period and no key performance or mandatory 

performance indicators through July 31, 2021.

The County’s Recovery Plan Performance Report will be updated when project data becomes available.