The federal government distributed North Carolina’s American Rescue Plan Act funds in two ways — $3.2 billion to county and city governments, and $5.4 billion to the stategovernment.

Carolina Public Press spent the past year looking into how ARPA funds are being used by Western North Carolina’s local governments.

To conclude the project, CPP looked into how the other funds, the $5.4 billion distributed directly to the state, is being spent.

About $1.8 billion is reserved for water system improvements, such as repairs to wastewater treatment facilities.