SMC Recovery Initiative

Starting September 2021, San Mateo County will share recovery progress on the County’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) website. For the most recent progress updates, please visit https://www.smcgov.org/ceo/american-rescue-plan-act-arpa-funding 

About the Recovery Initiative

San Mateo County’s Recovery Initiative is a collaboration among local government agencies, community-based organizations and nonprofits, private partners, and residents to promote inclusive recovery and leverage the collective capacity of the whole community to build a more equitable, healthy, and connected San Mateo County.

Recovery Framework Report (September 2020)

Established in April 2020, the San Mateo County Recovery Initiative brought together over 160 government, nonprofit, and private sector partners to prioritize recovery strategies in a variety of focus areas.

Vulnerable Populations Support
New and Future Jobs
Bridge the Digital Divide
Mental Health and Wellness
Quality, Safe, and Affordable Childcare
Board Investments

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors swiftly reacted to the economic and social crises caused by COVID-19 by approving millions of County funds to support seniors, families, immigrants, small businesses, students, and childcare providers. The infographic shows the breakdown of where County, federal, and other leveraged funds have been allocated.

Our Equity Vision

The Equity Recovery Group developed a guiding statement for the recovery.
The effects of COVID-19 are amplifying inequities, but the recovery is an opportunity for a collective restart. To create an equitable community, systems, policies, and practices of oppression must be dismantled. Our new systems must eliminate disparities and provide access to quality services for all unserved, underserved, under-resourced, and ineffectively served individuals and families.
The Equity Recovery Group and Committees applied an equity lens to the recommendations by answering five review questions.
Decision Making and Solutions
Who sits at the decision-making table? Are there systematic barriers to participation? Whose perspectives and interests are represented?
Understanding Data
What do the various data tell us about the need for the proposed initiative? Specifically, consider race, ethnicity, gender identity and gender expression, income, languages spoken, ability, age, and neighborhood.
Burdens and Benefits
Who would benefit or be burdened by this proposed initiative? Would low-income households or communities of color experience a disproportionate burden? What inequity is being addressed?
Accountability, Communication, and Community Engagement
How will we be accountable to and communicate with the community throughout implementation? How do we engage those who are not often represented in decision making or those most affected by inequities?
Next Steps
If equity considerations have been identified by asking these questions, how will they be addressed?