American Rescue Plan Act Of 2021

The Town of Lunenburg is committed to working together with the community to hear from residents and community leaders on how these ARPA funds should be used. Additionally, the Town and its community partners will aggressively pursue additional funding opportunities that will become available through ARPA and any additional relief legislation.

Town Manager Heather Lemieux, the Lunenburg Select Board, and relevant public officials will evaluate all of the information provided through a Town-wide engagement process and based upon that community input, determine priorities for ARPA spending and ultimately make recommendations for allocating the funds.

The ARPA recovery funds provide a historic opportunity to improve the quality of our lives through affordable housing, food security, entrepreneurship and small business assistance, workforce development including childcare and digital access, mental and behavioral health, environmental investments, and infrastructure improvements. Together we are charged with identifying areas where one-time investments can have long-term benefits for our residents and community. Through close collaboration, we will enact solutions that allow for economic growth and development while making the right choices for our community.

What is ARPA funding?

Signed into effect by President Biden on March 11, 2021, the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) seeks to help the country recover from the devastating impacts of the pandemic, providing emergency funding for state, local, territorial, and tribal governments. The Town of Lunenburg is the recipient of over $3.5 million dollars through ARPA.

Eligible Uses of Funding ARPA funds provide a substantial infusion of resources to help turn the tide on the pandemic, address its economic fallout, and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable recovery.

Eligible uses of ARPA funding include:

• Supporting urgent COVID-19 response efforts to continue to decrease the spread of the virus and bring the pandemic under control
• Replacing lost revenue to strengthen support for vital public services and help retain jobs
• Providing assistance to small businesses, households, and hard-hit industries and communities hardest hit by COVID-19
• Investing in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure.

For more information about how funds can be used, please visit the US Department of the Treasury.