This post summarizes the amounts and status of federal aid available to municipalities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as of August 6, 2021, with a particular focus on aid available to Belmont, Watertown, and Boston.
More information on the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds can be found here.
An overview of all various types of federal aid allocated to Massachusetts on both the state and municipal level is available here.
Direct Municipal Aid
Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CLFRF)
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocated funding to states, counties, and municipalities to cover costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Details and resources outlining the ARPA funding can be found here. Additional details on CLFRF funds can be viewed here.
ARPA funding is allocated in three pieces: directly to municipalities/cities, to county governments, and to states directly. Massachusetts has been allocated $3.4 billion total in aid to municipalities and counties.
Per ARPA statute, municipal and county CLFRF allocations are paid out equally (50%) in two tranches, one in 2021 and the second to be paid out a year after the first payment. More details about CLFRF funds and payment timeline can be found here.
| Town | Belmont | Watertown | Boston |
| Total Municipal Allocation | $2,733,524 | $3,761,683 | $424,179,607 |
| First municipal tranche (50%) paid June 2021 | $1,366,762 | $1,880,841.50 | $212,089,804 |
| Second municipal tranche (50%) be paid by June 2022 | $1,366,762 | $1,880,841.50 | $212,089,804 |
| Total County Allocation | $5,072,727 | $6,980,729 | $134,529,431 |
| First county allocation tranche (50%) to be paid by A&F week of August 9th, 2021 | $2,536,363.50 | $3,490,364.50 | $67,264,715.50 |
| Second county allocation tranche (50%) to be paid by A&F by August 2020 | $2,536,363.50 | $3,490,364.50 | $67,264,715.50 |
| Total CLFRF Allocation to Town | $7,806,251 | $10,742,413 | $558,709,038 |
Other COVID-19 Federal Aid Available to Towns
A complete list of funding for all towns and description of programming can be found here. More information on each grant type can be found here.
| Federal Funds as of 8/6/21 | Belmont | Watertown | Boston | Federal Act Allocating Funds |
| CvRF-MP | $2,321,456* | $3,169,982* | CARES Act | |
| CVRF-Boston/Plymouth | $120,853,359* | CARES Act | ||
| Shared Streets Program | $367,172 | $358,248 | CARES Act | |
| Community Development Block Grant | $215,217 | $20,039,341 | CESF | |
| Emergency Solutions Grant | $28,543,879 | CARES Act | ||
| Assistance to Firefighters Grant | $397,057 | CARES Act | ||
| Justice Assistance Grants | $1,297,757 | CESF | ||
| Election Security Grants | $5,226 | $62,082 | $4,924 | CARES Act |
| Obligated FEMA Applications | $161,820 | $5,838,490 | FEMA | |
| HOPWA | $449,562 | CARES Act | ||
| Total Municipal Allocation | $10,249,753 | $14,499,708 | $736,548,814 |
All amounts listed above have been paid out to municipalities as of August 6, 2021.
* includes funds from the first and second round of CvRF funds. For more information on the current round of CvRF “reconciliation period” funding available, please see information in the following section.
Coronavirus Relief Fund Municipal Program
The federal CARES Act provided Massachusetts with a total of approximately $2.5 billion through the new Coronavirus Relief Fund (CvRF) to use for expenditures related to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The Commonwealth has made available up to approximately $502 M in CvRF funds to Massachusetts cities and towns through the Coronavirus Relief Fund Municipal Program (CvRF-MP).
Municipalities may apply for CvRF funds for expenses within the following guidelines:
- Be necessary as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency;
- Not be included in the city or town’s budget as of March 27, 2020; and
- Occur between March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021.
Funding for CvRF-MP is being distributed in three rounds:
- Round 1: May & June 2020
- Round 2: October 2020
- A third round, which is structured as a reimbursement “reconciliation period” round, is currently accepting applications until October 29, 2021
Municipalities can find additional resources on applying for this third round of CvRF “reconciliation period” funding here. Additional resources for municipalities are also available through the Mass Municipal Association.
CvRF-MP funding does not include municipalities within Boston or Plymouth counties. Municipalities in Boston and Plymouth Counties have received their CvRF funds directly from the federal government and thus are not eligible for CvRF-MP funds allocated through the state. More information on CvRF and CvRF-MP eligibility can be found here.
COVID-Related Federal Revenue Available to Local Education Agencies (LEAs)
A complete list of LEA funding across the state can be found here.
| Town | Belmont | Watertown | Boston | Federal Act Allocating Funds |
| CvRF School Reopening Grants | $1,043,100 | $601,200 | CARES Act | |
| Remote Learning Technology Essentials | $33,953 | $672,342 | Federal CFDA 21.019 | |
| ESSER I | $127,474 | $340,013 | $32,345,848 | CARES Act |
| ESSER II | $456,006 | $1,239,158 | $122,967,457 | CRRSA Act |
| ESSER III | $1,001,654 | $2,866,910 | $276,144,978 | ARPA |
| Total LEA Allocation | $2,628,299 | $5,081,234 | $432,130,625 |
All amounts listed above have been paid out as of August 6, 2021.
Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds
You can read more about Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds allocated to the state here: Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds.