State IT officials say they're getting 'fair share' of relief funds

State IT officials are starting to see the effects of federal pandemic recovery money flowing in, and are using the funds to better equip remote workforces, improve network security and expand broadband. The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan that President Joe Biden signed in March 2021 included $350 billion tailored for state and local governments. Unlike previous rounds of COVID-19 relief packages, that money came with few restrictions on how those governments could make use of the aid, opening the possibility for states, cities and counties to use it for long-overdue technology projects. Much of this IT spending happens behind the scenes. Maryland Secretary of Information Michael Leahy said that the most visible bit of the American Rescue Plan’s support for state and local governments is the billions of dollars for broadband expansion after a crisis that exposed the severity of the digital divide. While Leahy does not have a direct hand in broadband deployment — the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development oversees the state’s broadband program — his office is lending technical assistance on how to use the $30 million for new development Gov. Larry Hogan announced in July 2021. “It’s the people issue,” Leahy said. “We have focused very strongly in Maryland in terms of utilization of broadband. The most important thing is knowing what data we have, were it resides.”