City launches ARPA Relief Grant Funding Programs
11/8/2021
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, also called the COVID-19 Stimulus Package or American Rescue Plan, is a $1.9 trillion dollar economic stimulus bill passed by the 117th United States Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021, to speed up the country's recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing recession.
In late September of 2021, the City received the first ARPA Tranche payment in the amount of $534,227.30. Once the funds were received, the City went to work forming a team and developing a plan to distribute these funds to the community as quickly as possible. The ARPA Board members are as follows:
Councilman Bill Farnham - Ward I
Councilman Sean A. Wilson - Ward III
Amber Box - Finance Officer
Tracey York - Utility Supervisor
Miriam Jones - Executive Assistant
With heavy restrictions and strict regulations, the team worked hard to come up with programs that will benefit the community while adhereing to the Acts requirements. You can find more information on the American Recue Plan Act on the US Department of the Treasury's website.
Currently, the City is offering two different programs, with a third on the way, that focuses on getting funding to the families who need it the most.
The Utility Billing Relief Program, a program started in 2020 to help ease the impact of high utility costs for those who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 crisis, has been refunded for the next five (5) years, thanks to ARPA funding. To see if you are eligible for assistance, contact the Utility Department at 573.774.6171.
The ARPA team, in a effort to prevent high bills in the first place, developed the BUILD IT BETTER - Home Efficiency Improvement Program. This program provides reimbursable funding to disproportionate households in order to complete energy efficient upgrades to their homes.
more information regarding these programs can be found on the City's website. Be sure to have your friends and family who can benefit from either of these programs contact us today!