1. About The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA )
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) included $350 billion in pandemic-related aid for state and local governments.
Vermont is receiving more than $1.25 billion of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funding from ARPA. While the legislature and the governor will determine how more than $1 billion of that funding will be spent, Congress directed nearly $200 million of that funding directly to Vermont’s cities, towns, and villages.
South Hero is directly receiving $493,000.
- $40,000 Allocated for digitalizing land records
- $453,000 Balance remaining to allocate
2. How May South Hero Spend the Funding?
ARPA includes four broad criteria outlining eligible uses:
- To respond to the public health emergency or its negative economic impacts, including assistance to households, small businesses, and nonprofits, or aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality.
- To respond to workers performing essential work during the COVID-19 public health emergency by providing premium pay to eligible workers.
- For the provision of government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue due to the COVID–19 public health emergency relative to revenues collected in the most recent full fiscal year prior to the emergency.
- To make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.
We Want to Hear From YOU!
The Town is seeking your input on how this money should be spent to benefit South Hero residents. This is the first step in the decision-making process. The Town needs to decide what to spend these funds on by December 31, 2024; and the money must be spent by December 31, 2026.
Below we have set up a survey where you can provide your input on how to spend this money. This survey will close _DATE TBD_____.
We also have set up two discussion tools: ”Post Your Ideas” and “Let’s Discuss___________”). We hope you will respectfully jump in, share your ideas, listen to your neighbors, and together discuss South Hero’s ARPA funding possibilities.
LINKS:
SURVEY: PRIORITIES FOR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING
DISCUSSION FORUM
POST YOUR IDEAS
Survey: Priorities for American Rescue Plan Act Funding
The Town of South Hero is receiving $$493,000 in federal economic relief funding through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The Town has already allocated $40,000 to digitalize Land Records. That leaves a balance of $453,000. The Town is seeking your input on how this money should be spent to benefit South Hero residents. This is the first step in the decision-making process. The Town needs to decide what to spend these funds on by December 31, 2024; and the money must be spent by December 31, 2026. ARPA funding has a broad range of eligible uses on which the money can be spent. Recommended guiding principles can be found at gfoa.org or for FAQs go to vlct.org.
This survey will run through: DATE TBD