Selectboard Hosts Nov. 1 Meeting on Allocation of $2M in American Rescue Plan Act Funds

The Selectboard holds a public meeting Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. to receive residents’ input on how to best deploy more than $2 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

The meeting will be held via Zoom and is posted on the town calendar for Nov. 1.

Half of this funding has already been received by the town, but it is not yet allocated. The remainder comes in 2022.

Use of these ARPA funds ($2,075,908 for Great Barrington) is not expected to be subject to a town meeting vote. But town leaders seek public feedback on best uses for the funds.

Expenditures must fall into one of five categories:

•             Public health

•             Economic impact of the Covid-19 emergency

•             Loss of public sector revenue

•             Premium pay for essential workers

•             Water, sewer and broadband Infrastructure

ARPA was signed into law on March 11, 2021, in response to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.

Nationally, ARPA provides $1.9 trillion for continued COVID-19 response and recovery, including $350 billion for the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.

Approximately $113 billion is for Massachusetts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to hosting a public input meeting,  the town will also prepare an online survey for town residents. This survey will be made available in the coming weeks.

Further information and more details about the five funding categories available here, and also on the Selectboard page of the town website.