What Does the American Rescue Plan Mean for the North Fork?

Anton Riehle ‘21

March 2021

On Thursday, March 11, President Joe Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan, the largest government spending bill in American history, coming in at $1.9 trillion.

Included in the bill is a $1400 check for every American adult making under $75,000 annually, plus $300 per dependent child. Also included in the bill is extra aid for schools, local governments, vaccine distribution and small business relief. Southold Town is now poised to receive $2.43 million in federal assistance as part of the plan. So what will this mean for North Forkers?

Given the importance of small businesses in Greenport for both jobs and tax revenue, the most relevant aspect of the bill for the North Fork is the small business relief. Many businesses who rely on the summer tourist economy are still suffering the effects of last year’s lockdown.

Though that is not their only concern. After the New York State minimum wage hike to $15, businesses will likely rely on federal aid to help pay their employees. The aid is also necessary for many local business owners to afford the ever-increasing rent for a location in downtown Greenport. Fortunately, most businesses were able to open during the high season in 2020, so the economic losses were not as extreme as in, say, New York City.

Aid for schools is also vital on the North Fork, as it is one of the few pockets of the Northeast where schools have been partially open since September. Government aid is needed for PPE (personal protective equipment) in schools.

Greenport Schools have used some previous federal aid towards purchasing more Chromebooks for students, as well as securing portable internet hotspots for students to use on remote learning days. With Section XI resuming sports, aid will also be needed for regular COVID tests for student athletes. It is also likely that virus precautions will continue into the 2021-22 school year.

The money for vaccine distribution will ideally speed up the vaccination rate following the release of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Recently, the vaccine has been made more accessible for North Forkers, with vaccination sites opening at Stony Brook ELIH in Greenport, and at the Walgreens and CVS pharmacies in Mattituck.

As for the rate of vaccinations, the New York State average is at 23 percent for at least one dose, and ll.4 percent for fully vaccinated. This is slightly below the US average, where 12 percent are fully vaccinated.

From the stimulus payments to the vaccine development to the small business relief, North Fork residents have much to look forward to from this (record-breaking) large spending package.