This is How the Bryan Administration Plans to Spend $547 Million Provided to Territory Through the American Rescue Plan Act

The Bryan administration sent top officials from a number of government departments and agencies to face questions from lawmakers during a Committee on Disaster Recovery and Infrastructure hearing Wednesday. The goal of the hearing was to learn of the administration's plans for $547 million allocated to the USVI as part of the $1.9 trillion coronavirus-aid relief package, known as the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021.

In total, the USVI has been allocated $746 million since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, including funding from two Covid-aid packages signed into law under former President Donald Trump (the $2.2 trillion CARES Act in March 2020 and $900 billion through another measure in December 2020). Additional funding came from two measures under President Biden in March 2021: ARPA and the $900 billion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed into law on Nov. 15, 2021.

Relative to ARPA, Office of Management and Budget Director, Jenifer O'Neal, said the USVI has been allocated $547,176,884 and is in receipt of $531,260,477. Importantly, the territory only received the 437-page rules from the U.S. Treasury Department regarding how to spend the funds on January 6. "OMB and the Office of the Governor are currently reviewing the final rule document with an eye on ensuring compliance of GVI’s plan," she said.

The ARPA funds consist of:

$515,344,070 for the territory allocation under the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (CSFRF)
$10,333,962 - 50% of the county allocations under the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CLFRF)
$5,582,445 - 50% of the Non-Entitlement Unit (NEU) allocation.