Comment on Iowa governments in line for over $4 billion in COVID-19 aid

DES MOINES — Iowa governments are in line for more than $4.45 billion in federal COVID-19 relief money under a nationwide $1.9 trillion package signed earlier this month by President Joe Biden, according to a preliminary analysis issued Monday by the state’s nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency.Iowa’s $4.451 billion share of the American Rescue Plan Act represents funds flowing through state government and do not include stimulus funding to individuals and families that totals about an additional $3.77 billion in direct payments to Iowans, the analysis indicated.Overall, the federal package provided relief funding to individuals, businesses, states and local governments.Of the state government’s share, agency analysts estimate $1.379 billion will be distributed from the State Fiscal Recovery Fund, and local governments are estimated to receive about $1.162 billion from the Local Fiscal Relief Fund.