Governor’s AccelerateSC Task Force Meets to Hear ARPA Recommendations

Governor McMaster reconvened the AccelerateSC Task Force with the purpose to make recommendations to him on how to spend $2.5 billion in American Rescue Act (ARPA) funds allocated by Congress in March 2021. South Carolina’s total share of funding is $8.9 billion of which $6.3 billion will be dispersed directly to counties, cities, school districts, and state agencies. Eligible uses of the funds include support for reopening key industries, water and sewer infrastructure, addressing educational disparities, and lost revenue replacement.
At its second meeting, the task force heard from agency heads about various potential funding needs including:


•  Grants for any business that paid unemployment insurance taxes in 2020
•  Accelerating the widening of I-26 by six years with gas tax revenues lost in 2020
•  Expanding broadband infrastructure
•  Funding cybersecurity initiatives and a one-stop-shop state and local government services IT platform
•  Matching grants for local water and sewer projects
 
The task force is meeting this week to discuss workforce development grants, K-12 needs, public safety needs, and funding for tourism, agriculture, and port needs. The Governor will submit final recommendations to the General Assembly before legislators return later in September to appropriate the funds.