ROCKINGHAM — American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds totaling $1.4 million dollars are to be awarded to the Town of Rockingham, Village of Bellows Falls, and Village of Saxtons River as part of the federal stimulus funding for COVID-19 relief and economic investment.
According to a news release, eligibility includes economic development projects through public and private funding, as well as the original four broad criteria outlining uses of ARPA funding - essential worker response, public health emergencies and negative economic impacts, reduction in revenue to government services, and necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.
Camoin Associates of New York has been hired to consult with the project team consisting of municipal manager Scott Pickup, development director Gary Fox, Bellows Falls Village president Deborah Wright, Saxtons River Trustee Chair Amy Howlett, Rockingham Selectboard Chair Peter Golec, and Bellows Falls downtown executive director Betsy Thurston.
The team will invite organizations and the public to submit project ideas. Camoin will run the public engagement sessions, organize project information, create reports, and make a final presentation at the meeting of all three Boards in May 2022.
ARPA funding may be pooled for eligible regional projects. This means that Rockingham may allot funding for regional or countywide investments, and projects in each of the town's villages may get town-supported funding as well.
Rockingham is inviting the public to engage in this process, however it is not a requirement of the ARPA award to the town and villages. Two public meetings will be held in March and April to discuss prospective ideas from organizations and residents. The team is accepting big or small ideas, at any stage of development and requests project ideas with long-term impacts.
Every idea submitted can create community support and leverage future grant funding, so residents are asked to share their project ideas. The deadline for submission is March 2. Find more information on eligibility criteria on the Vermont League of Cities & Towns at bit.ly/651-ARPA and the Town of Rockingham at bit.ly/3GM56rT.
Print your application to submit at the Rockingham Annual Town Meeting on Monday, Feb. 28 and at the polls on Tuesday, March 1, at the Masonic Temple. For more information, contact Development Director Gary Fox at [email protected] or 802-376-5425.