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Implementing the ARRA: Responses Across the Nation
At almost 1,100 pages, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is a complicated set of grants and regulations whose effects will be felt in almost every area of Texas’ government. Texas Impact recognizes the transformative potential of the ARRA, and we feel it is imperative that measures are put in place to ensure that the state acts prudently and transparently as it attempts to take full advantage of the funds Texas is entitled to.
Across the nation, other states are employing a variety of models to deal with their potential allocations and opportunities associated with the ARRA. Some states are doing more than others, to be sure, but it is instructive to look at all of the options open to Texas. To that end, Texas Impact has begun cataloging and analyzing state responses, and we have identified a few categories of reactions and developed a comprehensive list showing what states are doing.
| Type | Description | Example | Number |
| Office | A new, temporary state office is created to coordinate and implement the state’s ARRA funding | Wisconsin’s Office of Recovery and Reinvestment is comprised of staff on loan from each state agency | 7 |
| Working Group, Cabinet, etc. | These advisory bodies are often comprised of gubernatorial and legislative staff as well as representatives from state agencies | Kansas’ ARRA Advisory Group was established to monitor timelines and provide transparency | 15 |
| "Czar" | A single appointee is tasked with overseeing part or all of the state’s allocation | Ohio has tapped a nonprofit executive as its “infrastructure czar” | 9 |
In all, 31 states have implemented one of these measures. Their charges often differ, as some are meant primarily to provide oversight and accountability, while others are aiming to access more funds or coordinate the allocation process.
In addition, 22 states have established an official, stand-alone website dedicated to the state’s handling of ARRA funds. The sites allow citizens to learn about the bill, measure the state’s response, track expenditures, submit project proposals, and more. Some examples:
- Recovery.ohio.gov, one of the first sites to go online, keeps the public aware of upcoming deadlines and allows them to submit project proposals. Over 17,000 proposals had been submitted as of 4 March.
- Maryland has developed a site that includes its StateStat technology, which allows people to access an interactive map that tracks stimulus funding and projects. See the link at the upper left corner of the page.
- Washington's recovery.wa.gov provides a list of specific people to contact regarding projects in a number of categories such as alternative fuels, child care, criminal justice grants, etc.
- Stimulus.alabama.gov organizes ARRA provisions by stakeholders (businesses, nonprofits, individuals, etc.) so they can see which programs may be relevant to their interests.
Obviously, individual states will take the steps that are appropriate and necessary given their unique situation, but it is instructive to look at all of the options open to Texas. For a complete list of what other governors and state legislators are doing, see the attached document.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| State ARRA Responses.pdf | 105.6 KB |
