Fact Sheet: Impact of the American Rescue Plan on North Carolina

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), signed into law in March 2021, enacted transformational change and is widely seen as the most sweeping anti-poverty legislation in a generation, estimated to reduce child poverty by more than half and narrow the gap in poverty rates by race and ethnicity.

The Act comprises dozens of provisions, some of which would be directly accessible to families, including expanded tax credits for working families and families with children, rental assistance, increased food assistance benefits, and other critical supports to help families stay afloat while the COVID-19 pandemic rages on. It also includes substantial investments in systems supports, including supports for community health centers and schools as well as flexible funds for state and local governments to make investments based on the needs they identify in their communities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The table below includes many, but not all, of the funding streams included in the American Rescue Plan, including its general purpose by issue area, name of the funding stream, allocation or estimated allocation for North Carolina or other eligible recipient(s), and information about where to find additional information.