COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County Administrator Bud Norman told the Board of Commissioners during their work session on Thursday the county has received 18 requests for ARPA funding.
The county share of ARPA funds came out to $8-point-4 million and Norman explained during a power point presentation the county will not be able to pay for everything requested.
Norman pointed out some of the funding commitments can not be changed.
Commission Chair Tim Stoll felt the board should approach funding decisions like they did when they handled the Sheriff’s Department request for additional road patrol deputies.
Under the federal guidelines, the county has to decide by the end of 2024 on what the money will be spent on. Norman is encouraging Commissioners to make a decision by the end of the year.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced in July of 2022 that over 1,650 communities in Michigan will receive more than $321 million as part of the second batch of federal ARPA payments.
The funding provided to counties, cities, villages and townships across the state can be used to respond to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ARPA funds need to be spent by the end of 2026.
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