BREAKING: Arizona Cities, Towns, Counties, and Tribal Communities to Receive Over $2.6 Billion in Critical Coronavirus Relief

Following Sinema’s bipartisan negotiations, cities, towns, counties, and tribal communities across Arizona will receive direct relief and have flexibility over how to spend it

WASHINGTON – Today, coronavirus relief legislation—shaped by Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema—was signed into law, sending over $2.6 billion in direct coronavirus relief to Arizona cities, towns, counties, and tribal communities. As a member of the Senate’s bipartisan group on COVID-relief, Sinema worked with Arizona mayors and county leaders to ensure Arizona communities have direct budget support and the flexibility to make local decisions about how to spend it.
 
“Today’s funding represents a huge achievement for Arizona communities. Throughout the pandemic, I’ve worked directly with local leaders across Arizona to ensure they receive the support and resources needed to keep our communities safe. Thanks to bipartisan negotiations and close collaboration with Arizona mayors and county leaders, we secured direct coronavirus relief for our cities, towns, counties, and tribal communities to save jobs and prevent cuts to local first responders and essential services,” said Sinema.

“Thank you to Senator Sinema for championing Arizona cities and towns. Her support of the American Rescue Plan is providing much needed support to Mesa’s families, schools, businesses and restaurants who have all struggled throughout this pandemic,” said City of Mesa Mayor John Giles.
 
“First of all, it is hard to find anyone, especially a Legislator/Senator that puts her money where her mouth is and is truly bipartisan. Senator Sinema’s work on a relief package that boosts vaccinations, supports employers, extends unemployment insurance, and strengthens schools, broadband access, and supports small cities and towns . . . is right on the money and exactly what we need. Additionally, the hardest hit area in my community is our Restaurants and small businesses, her bipartisan Restaurant Rescue Plan and expanded Employee Retention Tax Credit will be a life saver,” said Mayor of Casa Grande Craig McFarland.
 
“Senator Sinema is a tireless and effective leader, doing all she can to represent Arizona – throughout the pandemic she has kept the needs of every Arizonan at the forefront.  Her support of the American Rescue Plan will mean that residents of Superior will have access to additional relief funds.  Our local restaurants and small businesses are in need of the relief this legislation will provide. This pandemic quickly showed the inequities of health care and internet access for rural Arizona, I am relieved to see there will be substantial amounts of funding to improve these inequities,” said Mayor of Superior Mila Besich.
 
“We are incredibly grateful for Senator Sinema’s support for additional state and local government funding.  This new influx of federal funding coming to the City of Maricopa will be used for a variety of priorities that will ensure that our City can continue to grow despite the effects of this global pandemic,” said Mayor of Maricopa Christian Price.
 
“The American Rescue Plan (ARP) will bring invaluable relief to Kingman’s families, employers and workers who have been most hard hit as a result of the pandemic.  Beyond direct aid to people in need, the programs provide support for our healthcare system, our schools, our veterans, our seniors and those providing essential services.  Further, Senator Sinema’s Restaurant Relief Plan will lift up our tourism sector and save jobs so important to our Kingman community. Combined with measures targeting broadband and transportation , the ARP will greatly contribute to Kingman’s economic recovery.  We appreciate the Senator’s work in delivering this critically needed relief package to our citizens,” said Mayor of Kingman Jen Miles
 
Sinema has long called for direct coronavirus relief and budget support for Arizona cities, towns, counties, and tribal communities. As a member of the Senate’s bipartisan group on COVID-relief, she worked closely with Arizona local leaders to secure $2.6 billion in direct budget support for all Arizona cities, towns, counties, and tribal communities in the COVID-relief legislation. These resources go directly to local leaders, so communities have more flexibility to make localized decisions on how best to use it. Arizona fire, sewage, water, power public utilities, flood control, and public health special districts are also eligible to receive coronavirus relief from the legislation.
 
Sinema also successfully included guardrails on Arizona’s state funding to ensure state leaders appropriately distribute resources to support Arizona’s health and economic recovery – instead of backfilling state budgets or funding unrelated projects, as we have seen in Arizona in recent months.
 
Below is breakdown of what Arizona cities, towns, and counties will receive thanks to Sinema’s work:

City/County/Town/                                              Relief in Millions