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What is the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)?
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was enacted by congress and signed by President Biden on March 11, 2021. It provides $350 Billion in funding to states, counties, cities, towns, and tribal governments. This is a once-in-a-generation lifeline to recover from the effects of the pandemic and the closures that were needed to limit its spread. The uses of the funds are broad but also specific.
How does ARPA help Penobscot County?
Penobscot County was granted $29.5 Million, to be paid in two tranches. The first allotment of FIRST PAYMENT was received on DATE, and the balance is to be paid on 2ND PAY DATE. The city of Bangor received a direct payment of $20 Million from the federal government. Other towns in Penobscot County received smaller amounts based on their population with that money routed through the state. You can find your town’s portion on this list HERE.
Working within the rules governing the use of these funds Penobscot County has the ability to recover from the hardships of the pandemic and move ahead to a more vibrant future.
How Can the ARPA Funds be Used?
Support Public Health Response
Replace Public Sector Revenue Loss
Address Negative Economic Impacts
Hazard Pay for Essential Workers
Infrastructure with Regard to Water, Sewer, and Broadband
For more information you can download the Treasury Department FAQ sheet HERE
What Can't the Funds be Used For?
Neither Penobscot County nor any of its sub-recipients may use these funds to reduce the net tax revenue or make extraordinary payments into pension funds. The funds can not be used for some types of matching funds, or be paid into a “rainy-day” fund. The funds can’t be used for Debt Service or Legal Settlements.
For more information you can download the Treasury Department FAQ sheet HERE
What is the Current Timeline for Using the ARPA Funds?
Penobscot County received its first allotment of funds on DATE. It will receive its second allotment on 2NDPAYDATE. All funds must be committed by 12/31/2024. All funds must be spent by 12/31/26.
As we develop our grant process this timeline will be updated.
How Can My Organization Apply for Funding?
We are still developing our funding process so we are not accepting applications at this time. Please watch this space for updates.
We did want to give you an idea of what the process would be like once we get started. These are federal funds and as such have some specific requirements. Any group submitting a funding proposal would need to first submit a risk assessment and a letter of intent with the basics of the proposal. The risk assessment will ask questions about other grants you’ve had and how they were managed among other things. The County Administrator’s office will review the proposals for eligibility and send requests for more information to those we think best meet the needs of the county. Those applications will then be reviewed by the commissioners.
We recognize that there are many worthy organizations but realistically there is no way to fund all of them. The best chance to get funding will be for specific projects and not for operational funding.
County Administrator’s Office
Lisette Carrithers
Grant Manager
97 Hammond St.
Bangor, ME
Have a question not answered here? Use the contact form below.
Calendar of Upcoming Community Meetings
Let us know what you think
For More Information Use These Links
US Department of Treasury
SLFRF Quick Reference Guide
Federal Register Final Interim Rule
Treasury Compliance and Reporting Guide
Guidance from NACo on Allowable Uses
The commissioner’s meeting is held every Tuesday at 9:00 am. If you would like an opportunity to provide public comment during our public comment session, please email: maokelly@penobscot-county.net no later than 8:15 a.m. EST the day of the meeting, and a Zoom invite will be provided and your name will be added to the agenda for public comment.