$217 million.

That’s the amount of aid Wake County will receive from the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act.

What are these funds intended for in Wake County?

The funds are labeled as “Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds” and will “assist local communities as they address the negative impacts of COVID-19 and lay the foundation for recovery.”

The funds will help combat:

Economic impacts spurred or exacerbated by the pandemic
Systemic community challenges through improved service delivery
Planning + preparing for future events that cause disruptions in services

How is Wake County going to disperse these funds?

That’s where you come into play. Wake County officials are looking for residents with a Wake County zip code to help gauge how it should spend some of the ARPA funds. To collect feedback, the county has created a public survey to help find what aspect of the pandemic has impacted them + the Wake County community the most.

What can I expect in the survey?

There will be a list of 10 topics — ranging from homelessness and housing stability to early childhood education and protecting the environment. You will be asked to place all 10 topics in order of importance to you as a citizen of Wake County, with the No. 1 topic being of the utmost importance. There will also be a blank field where you can add other items that aren’t already on the list.

The survey can be completed in minutes + is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Hindi. The last day to submit your response is Fri., Dec. 17.

Take the survey