MORGANTOWN — The city of Morgantown will receive $11,243,509 in American Rescue Plan Act funds over the next two years and, beginning Aug. 1, it is asking for public input on how these funds should be used.
The funding comes from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Included in that fund is $360 billion in one-time aid directly allocated to states, counties and municipalities.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the city and these funds will make a significant difference in our community,” Morgantown City Manager Kim Haws said. “We are undertaking a large community engagement campaign and I’m sure that we will get some great feedback which will allow us to develop a very robust and effective plan for these funds. I encourage all of our community members to take part in this process one way or another. We want to hear from you.”
From Aug. 1-21, an online survey will be available at bit.ly/COMARPA. Additionally, feedback will be gathered at a public meeting to be held Aug. 18.
City leadership will then review and score all project and program ideas prior to a second public meeting, on Sept. 1. At that meeting a draft action plan will be presented.
Both public meetings will be held at 7 p.m. at the Marilla Center, at 799 E Brockway Ave.
Use of ARPA funds are limited to the following:
- To respond to the public health emergency or its negative economic impacts, including assistance to households, small businesses and nonprofits, or to aid impacted industries such as tourism, travel and hospitality.
- To respond to workers performing essential work during the COVID-19 public health emergency by providing premium pay to eligible workers.
- For the provision of government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue due to the COVID-19 public health emergency relative to revenues collected in the most recent full fiscal year prior to the emergency.
- To make necessary investments in water, sewer or broadband infrastructure.
City administration encourages the community to focus on recovery goals.
“What we are asking the public to contribute is what goals they would like to see accomplished,” Haws said. “We want to be sure we are staying within the bounds laid out by the federal government for the use of the funds, but that we are also focusing on programs and projects that are priorities for our residents and businesses.”
For more information: morgantownwv.gov/ARPA
