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Town Council Approves Four New ARPA Projects

In an effort to make sure all available American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds are allocated by the Dec. 31 deadline, the Town Council approved funding for four new projects.

In 2022, it was announced that Clinton would receive about $3.8 million of federal money from ARPA to help mitigate the financial effects of the COVID-19 virus.

While the town has allocated some of the money in the two years since, there is still money left to be allocated as some projects came in under budget. All money for the projects must be obligated to be spent by Dec. 31, 2024. The projects must then be completed by the end of 2026.

The Town Council held a workshop in July to discuss the projects and then officially approved the funding at a meeting on Aug. 7.

The four projects are: constructing a harbor observation deck for $100,000, undertaking a road survey for $28,000, mower attachments for the Public Works Department for $27,000, and information technology improvements for $34,932. Town Council Chairperson Carrie Allen explained that the road survey is meant to determine which roads need to be paved first, and the technology improvements are related to cyber security.

Allen said that the available money came from a combination of other projects that had funds left over.

“The money has to be obligated, and it will be,” Allen said.

Additionally, Allen said that another ARPA workshop will be held later this month. Originally, the Town had set aside money for improvements to the town beach bathhouse, but Allen said the project is not feasible.

Instead, Allen said the Town will hold a workshop ahead of the Aug. 21 regular town council meeting and anticipated there will be about $286,000 of ARPA money to reallocate.

“Then that ought to do it, we don’t anticipate any other projects will need to be reallocated.”

In the past, the Town has spent money on items relating to recreation, infrastructure, public safety, tourism, nonprofits, small businesses, and human service support.

“Making sure all of the money is spent is a good challenge for a town to have, but it is still a challenge,” Allen said.