Just under a year since the shut-down of America and its communities because of the COVID-19 virus, on March 11, 2021 President Joe Biden signed into law the comprehensive, far-reaching $1.9 trillion “American Rescue Act of 2021”.  Local governments and community organizations will soon have access to substantial funding for fiscal relief, economic recovery, infrastructure, health and human services, housing assistance, food security, support for local non-profits, support for small businesses, rejuvenation of the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors – and more. 

ICMA and Sustainable Strategies DC will provide a 90-minute training session and valuable guidance materials on a March 24, 1:00 PM ET webinar.  This “To the Rescue” training session will provide practical, how-to information on issues including:

• Funding that will come to every unit of local government under the “Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund,” and how you can use those funds in proactive ways to revitalize your community, non-profits, small businesses, and infrastructure – as well as partner with your state government for those same activities using state-allocations of the Recovery Fund.
• Other funding in the Rescue Act for economic recovery and development, infrastructure, travel and tourism, restaurants, small business relief, transit, health and human services, food security, support for the homeless, and other critical local activities.
• A look ahead on even more resources that could become available in the pending FAST Act transportation legislation reauthorization (including earmarked projects), congressional FY2022 appropriations bills, earmarking of congressional funding for “community projects,” and the next round of stimulus under President Biden’s “Build Back Better Recovery” proposals.

Registrants for the training webcast will also receive a copy of the powerpoint deck with direct hyperlinks to the federal government sources of information on these forthcoming funds and programs, and a “Rescue & Recovery Guide” produced by Sustainable Strategies DC and ICMA for this March 24 session. 

Speakers

Matt Ward, CEO

Matt Ward is a co-founder and CEO of Sustainable Strategies DC and a leader with 25+ years experience in community revitalization, economic and infrastructure development, sustainability and green economy projects, federal and state government affairs, and resource strategies and advocacy.  He is also the owner of the Ward Washington Law Firm, providing local government and environmental counsel and problem-solving.  Before Sustainable Strategies DC, Matt was a partner at The Ferguson Group, and previously served as a partner and government affairs advocate at the law firm Spiegel & McDiarmid. He is a co-founder of the National Brownfields Coalition and the Brownfield Communities Network, and has served as national policy director to a number of organizations including the National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals, the National Association of Towns and Townships, the Manufacturing Alliance of Communities, the Mayors Automotive Coalition, and the American Waterfront Revitalization Coalition.  Matt has served as a city councilman and planning commission chairman for his hometown.

Ashley Badesch, Principal

Ashley Badesch serves as a Principal at Sustainable Strategies DC. A Colorado native, Ashley leads Sustainable Strategies DC's Mountain West practice. Her other practice areas focus on community health and wellness, as well as deploying Opportunity Zones to benefit communities.  Prior to joining Sustainable Strategies DC, Ashley worked at the Center for International Policy. Ashley earned her J.D., Magna Cum Laude, at Georgetown University Law Center. She received her Master of Public Policy with a focus in Environmental Policy and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Minor in Philosophy from the University of Virginia.