County Grant: Montgomery County Recovery Plan Summary

Featured Initiative: Youth Build Diversity Ambassador Program & Equity Advancement

Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, launched a comprehensive Recovery Plan using $161.4 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The goal: to address the wide-ranging public health and economic impacts of COVID-19 while building a more resilient, equitable future for its residents.

At the heart of the plan is a commitment to equity, community input, and long-term transformation — particularly in historically underserved communities.

Featured Initiative: Youth Build Diversity Ambassador Program

One of the standout initiatives funded through this plan is the Youth Build Diversity Ambassador Program, a youth-centered workforce development and civic engagement initiative. Designed to empower young people in Montgomery County, this program promotes leadership, cultural competency, and public service — preparing the next generation to serve as ambassadors of inclusion, equity, and systemic change.

This investment not only creates pathways to employment and education but also supports a broader vision of a diverse and equitable Montgomery County. It reflects the County’s belief that youth engagement is essential to building long-term, sustainable social progress.

Equity-Focused Grant: Coalition for Racial Justice and Social Equity

In alignment with the Recovery Plan’s commitment to racial equity and social impact, the Coalition for Racial Justice and Social Equity has received a $100,000 grant to advance its work countywide. This funding will support the Coalition’s ongoing initiatives to address structural inequities, engage community members, and facilitate systems-level change through dialogue, policy work, and community-driven solutions.

Recovery Office Strategy and Community Engagement

Montgomery County formed a dedicated Recovery Office to ensure an open, transparent, and community-centered distribution of funds. Extensive outreach efforts included multilingual town halls, online surveys, and technical assistance for over 400 applicants. A diverse External Review Committee evaluated over 426 project submissions and 157 idea proposals, totaling $1.3 billion in requests — a clear signal of urgent community need.

Through this process, five core funding priorities were identified:

Affordable housing
Behavioral health
Child care
Emergency response
Digital access

The County emphasized investments that could provide transformative impact, especially in communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

Top Funding Areas

Affordable Housing – $32.4MIncludes 325 new affordable units, homebuyer assistance, housing preservation, and a $5.5M Housing Opportunities Fund to repurpose land for long-term housing development.
Community Services & Facilities – $28MFunds new wellness and community centers for underserved populations, including the Latino and AAPI communities, and major investments in Norristown and Pottstown.
Behavioral Health – $18.1MSupports school-based services, LGBTQIA+ and senior mental health access, and the creation of a Behavioral Health Crisis Response Service Center.
Child Care – $9.6MOperational support for centers, a new in-home model for nontraditional work hours, and a countywide strategic study of childcare workforce issues.
Economic & Workforce Development – $14.4MInvestments in small business support (especially for women- and minority-owned businesses), workforce training, and employment pathway programs — including youth initiatives like the Youth Build Diversity Ambassador Program.
Food Security – $8.4MNew food warehouse, distribution coordination, and a food policy council.
Public Health & Safety – $11.9MEMS system upgrades, gun violence and domestic abuse prevention, and digital public health initiatives.

Recovery Office-Led Projects and Strategic Planning

To ensure coordination and scale, the Recovery Office is directly facilitating five initiatives:

Norristown Community Facility
Countywide Call Center Initiative
EMS System Strategic Planning
Small Business Support in Norristown and Pottstown
Child Care Workforce Study

Equity in Action and What Comes Next

Beyond grantmaking, the County is using the Recovery Plan as a blueprint for long-term equity and capacity-building. The inclusion of the Youth Build Diversity Ambassador Program and the support of the Coalition for Racial Justice and Social Equity signal a firm commitment to systemic change — led not just by institutions, but by the people most affected.

Implementation began in Fall 2022. The Recovery Office is committed to tracking progress, ensuring accountability, and connecting unfunded initiatives to new opportunities through future federal programs or partnerships with philanthropy and other County departments.