The Select Board of Sunderland is looking for suggestions and ideas from town residents on how to spend and invest the funds received from the federal government as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA.
The town has approximately $292,000 that can be utilized for eligible projects. Some ideas have already been advanced, but board members would like to hear from as many local residents as possible before allocating this one-time money. The next regular meeting of the Select Board, on Monday, May 8, at the Sunderland Town Hall located on Mountain View Lane off Sunderland Hill Road, will be largely devoted to this ARPA discussion. The meeting will start at 7 pm.
The Select Board has held a couple of meetings where ARPA ideas have been shared, but the board would like to give residents at least one more opportunity to weigh in with some suggestions.
The ARPA funds will need to be allocated by December 2024, and fully spent by December 2026.
The rules governing eligible uses and purposes for which the money can be spent have eased since the legislation was enacted. The Vermont League of Cities and Towns has developed a webpage which offers answers to many possible questions, and it can be found at https://www.vlct.org/search?query=arpa.
The Select Board hopes as many residents as possible will be able to attend the meeting. It will be an in-person only meeting, with no remote option. Those who can't attend, but would like to offer an idea, can email the Select Board at selectboard@sunderlandvt.org