WAKEFIELD — The town is slated to get about $8 million in federal relief funds and if you have any ideas about how to use them, officials would like to hear from you.
The federal American Rescue Plan Act, commonly known as ARPA, is providing funds to the commonwealth and its municipalities from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund and Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.
Wakefield’s Town Council and Town Administrator hosted an infosession on December 16, 2021. Participants learned about the types of projects than can and cannot be funded via ARPA and had the opportunity to discuss each of the eligible categories through virtual break-out sessions. If you were unable to attend but have a suggestion to share, let us know.
How can ARPA funds be used?
The U.S. Department of Treasury specifies that recipients may use ARPA funds to:
• Support public health expenditures, by, for example, funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral healthcare, and certain public health and safety staff
• Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, including economic harms to workers, households, small businesses, impacted industries, and the public sector
• Replace lost public sector revenue, using this funding to provide government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue experienced due to the pandemic
• Provide premium pay for essential workers, offering additional support to those who have and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical infrastructure sectors
• Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, making necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, support vital wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and to expand access to broadband internet.
Suggestions for ARPA funding can be submitted at the town’s website — wakefield.ma.us/arpa.
