President Joe Biden signs the American Rescue Plan
Virginia and its local governments have more than rescue in mind as they await the first installment of $6.8 billion in federal to end the COVID-19 pandemic, rebuild a damaged economy and bring daily life back to a new definition of normal.
The state and localities see a chance to potentially achieve longstanding goals - from making broadband internet service available and affordable across Virginia to beginning to repair and replace obsolete public school buildings - but only if they work together to coordinate spending federal money that is coming from multiple directions.