The federal government passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March 2020 and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in March 2021. The purpose of these acts was to provide economic support to those impacted by COVID-19. In total, the State of Vermont, its institutions, and individual Vermonters received approximately $10.9 billion in funding from these acts. This includes $2.25 billion which was distributed through the state legislature to various programs in order to assist Vermont residents and businesses.
Quickly disbursing funds aimed at mitigating this crisis while avoiding fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement is a critical but challenging task.
