As first deadline for American Rescue Plan Act money approaches, Baltimore makes contingency plans

With the deadline to obligate $641 million in American Rescue Plan Act money now less than a year away, Baltimore officials said Thursday that they are creating contingency plans to substitute projects that are in danger of not meeting the deadline. The federal money, distributed to jurisdictions across the country in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, must be obligated by Dec. 31, meaning the funds are assigned to a contract, purchase order or invoice that’s been approved by the city. Cities have longer to actually spend the funds before they risk forfeiture, however.