Tens of millions of dollars in federal assistance have poured into the Flathead Valley, an infusion of cash that could help local governments recover from the pandemic, repair aging infrastructure and compensate essential public employees who have been on the frontlines of mitigating COVID-19.

Flathead County has received nearly $20.2 million in direct support from the Treasury Department under the American Rescue Plan that Congress passed in March — the fourth highest amount of any county in Montana. The county also received nearly $4.4 million the Montana Legislature earmarked for water and sewer projects.

The cities of Whitefish, Kalispell and Columbia Falls each have received the first of two anticipated funding allocations. Kalispell is slated to receive more than $6.27 million, Whitefish nearly $2.12 million and Columbia Falls about $1.5 million. And those figures don't include separate portions of federal aid the state has repackaged as grants reserved for various purposes.

Lake and Lincoln counties have received $5.92 million and $3.88 million, respectively, while Polson is on track to get more than $1.29 million and nearly $710,000 will go to Libby.

President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan after it passed with only Democratic support in the evenly divided Congress. Former President Donald Trump previously signed into law about $4 trillion in pandemic relief, including the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act in March 2020.

In addition to support for state and local governments, the aid packages also included federal unemployment benefits and direct payments to most U.S. taxpayers.

IT'S NOW up to local officials to decide how to spend the American Rescue Plan money. Most of it must be obligated by the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026.

On Tuesday, the Flathead County commissioners, all Republicans, voted 2-1 to accept the $20.2 million from the Treasury Department, with Commissioner Randy Brodehl saying he didn't feel comfortable taking money that adds to the national debt.

Commissioners Pam Holmquist and Brad Abell said they shared Brodehl's concern but did not see a practical reason to reject the funding, as it would provide benefits to local taxpayers and could simply be reallocated if the county doesn't use it.

County officials haven't yet decided how to spend most of the $20.2 million. But portions of it, as well as the separate $4.4 million, will be spent on infrastructure upgrades in concert with local water and sewer districts.

During a Kalispell City Council work session last week, Public Works Director Susie Turner said the city could use its funds for three sewer rehabilitation and replacement projects, an upgrade to the Grandview lift station and force main, replacement of roofs on two water reservoirs, and two wastewater treatment plant rehabilitation and replacement projects.

Columbia Falls officials plan to use federal aid to upgrade the bioreactor at the city's sewer plant and search for costly leaks in its water system, which can account for roughly half of the city's water usage during the summer months. City Manager Susan Nicosia has said the city might leverage the funds to apply for additional grants from the state.

Whitefish officials are still mulling how to spend the city's allocation, but ideas on the table include doling out grants to local businesses and nonprofits, and some City Council members have expressed interest in strengthening the city's affordable housing programs.

"Keep in mind these are designed to address the economic harm resulting from COVID-19, with the exception of water and sewer infrastructure projects," Whitefish Finance Director Ben Dahlman said during a council meeting last week. "We're taking ideas and then trying to figure out if the funds can be used for that."

Assistant editor Chad Sokol may be reached at 406-758-4439 or csokol@dailyinterlake.com. Daily Inter Lake reporter Bret Anne Serbin, Hungry Horse News editor Chris Peterson and Whitefish Pilot editor contributed to this report.