Posted
For Immediate Release: Thursday, February 10, 2022
Washington County recognized for effective use of federal funds for pandemic response and recovery
Washington County is being recognized for its pandemic response and recovery investment plan for spending American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds in the community. The Board of County Commissioners’ adopted framework was highlighted as a best practices model by Results for America, a national nonprofit organization that supports local, state and federal government entities in the use of evidence and data to help solve today’s most pressing challenges. Washington County was one of four counties nationally to demonstrate a clear investment across all data and evidence criteria in Results for America’s Data, Evidence, and Outcome Provisions Assessment for ARPA Recovery Plan Performance Reports. The Results for America dashboard is a data-driven tool, created with Mathematica, to examine how Cities and Counties are investing their American Rescue Plan funds.
The Results for America dashboard analyzed Recovery Plan Performance Reports submitted to the U.S. Treasury from 150 cities, counties and tribal nations across the country. The plans were assessed for adherence to five key evidence and data provisions within the Treasury’s final rule: 1) Building data and evidence capacity; 2) Using evidence and data to drive decision-making; 3) Investing in rigorous program evaluation; 4) Engaging in authentic community engagement; and 5) Ensuring equitable outcomes. Take a look at how Washington County scores as one of four top counties and in the top eight jurisdictions nationally here: https://results4america.org/tools/arp-dashboard/.
"Governments that are using data and evidence, rigorous evaluation, and authentic community engagement to inform their decision-making process, will see more equitable outcomes for their residents from this investment. Washington County can be considered a best practice framework in how these historic funds can be used to create long-term structural change for communities,” said Jen Tolentino, Director of Local Practice at Results for America.
“The board’s adopted values and framework align with how experts say we should be investing, including building on a data-driven, community-centered approach to pandemic response and recovery,” said Washington County Board Chair Kathryn Harrington. “Our choices reflect what Results for America has identified as the ideal ARPA strategy and are proud to be an exemplary model.”
In June of 2021, the Washington County Board of Commissioners committed to equity, collaboration, resilience and good governance as foundational values in guiding Washington County’s use of the American Rescue Plan funds. The ARPA investment framework evaluated by Results for America was adopted by the board in September 2021. Investment areas include protecting public health, community stabilization and holistic wellness, continued operations, stabilizing and supporting the local economy and community engagement.
Visit Washington County’s ARPA webpage www.co.washington.or.us/recovery for all updates related to ARPA and visit https://results4america.org/ to monitor national performance reports.
Media Contact:
Silvia Pereida, Public Relations and Communications Coordinator
503-307-0932
[email protected]