Fairfax County has been identified as a national leader in using federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) to promote equity. The county ranked in the top 20 of 170 cities and counties evaluated for their commitment to racial and economic equity, according to a new study by the Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy at The New School.
The ARPA, SLFRF provided $130 billion in flexible funding for local governments to support COVID-19 relief and transformative investments, focusing on communities of color, Tribal communities and low-income populations disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Fairfax County's strong performance aligns with the principles outlined in its One Fairfax policy, which emphasizes the importance of racial and social equity in public decision-making.
Fairfax County received $222 million in ARPA, SLFRF funding. Significant equity-focused investments highlighted in the study include the PIVOT Business Recovery Grant Program and the Non-Profit Sustainability Grant program, which helped mitigate the negative economic impacts experienced by small businesses and the county’s non-profit safety net providers; and a rent relief program for households experiencing a negative financial impact due to the pandemic.
Fairfax County’s approach scored particularly high for including an explicit racial and economic equity focus to its investments, implementing strategies with high potential to impact equity, and emphasizing transparency and accountability in its efforts.
“Our commitment to equity has guided our use of ARPA funds, ensuring that we prioritize the needs of our most vulnerable communities,” said Jeffrey McKay, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. “This recognition reflects our ongoing efforts to build a more inclusive and resilient future for all residents.”
The One Fairfax policy provides a framework for promoting equity across all publicly delivered services and guides the county’s investments to enhance opportunities for all residents. This includes initiatives in community and economic development, housing, workforce development, education and health services—areas critical to achieving long-term equity goals.
The Institute’s assessment examined six dimensions of equitable public investment: overall equity focus, application of equity tools, community engagement, equitable labor practices, breadth of equity investments and investment transparency. Fairfax County's ARPA, SLFRF investments reflect a commitment to these principles, leveraging equity tools to ensure meaningful community involvement and addressing systemic barriers.
The full findings of the Budget Equity Project can be found in the report “Advancing Equity with the American Rescue Plan’s Local Recovery Funds,” which includes a comprehensive database of assessments and case studies.