Exactly one year after the World Health Organization declared the global COVID-19 pandemic that led to world-wide shutdowns, former President Joe Biden signed the $1. 9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) on March 11, 2021.

The federal stimulus funds were distributed to local communities to assist them in economic and public health recovery.

New Braunfels, though, had placed itself in the unique position to use the $11 million it received to address long-term community needs, according to the August issue of Better NB. New Braunfels has a strong, diverse economy, Assistant City Manager Jared Werner said, which absorbed some of the impact of the pandemic.