This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Politics & Government

Oceanside Seeks Community Input On Using $32.3 Mil ARPA Funding

How should Oceanside use the American Rescue Plan funds? City holding first Community Needs Assessment Meeting to gather input on Tuesday.

Community Needs Assessment Meeting at Oceanside Civic Center Library Community Rooms located at 330 N. Coast Highway on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at 6:00 p.m.
Community Needs Assessment Meeting at Oceanside Civic Center Library Community Rooms located at 330 N. Coast Highway on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. (Lisa Frost/Patch)

OCEANSIDE, CA — The City of Oceanside is holding a series of Community Needs Assessment Meetings to gather input on how to use the $32.3 million the city will receive in federal funding as part of the American Rescue Plan.

In March 2021, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), which established the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. Since the signing of ARPA, City leaders have been intently focused on planning Oceanside initiatives that meet the requirements of the ARPA.

The ARPA funds must be used by December 31, 2024, and all proposals must adhere to the ARPA legislation, which permits specific uses for the funding:

Find out what's happening in Oceanside-Camp Pendletonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Support public health expenditures by funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral healthcare, and certain public health and safety staff
  • Replace lost public sector revenue, using this funding to provide government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue experienced due to the pandemic;
  • Provide hazard pay for essential workers, offering additional support to those who have borne and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical infrastructure sectors; and,
  • Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, making necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, support vital wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and to expand access to broadband internet.

Community feedback will be used to develop a draft spending plan that carefully considers the use of these one-time resources within the designated time frame, as an investment in the community.

As the City of Oceanside prepares to receive direct funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), City leaders recognize the importance of engaging directly with residents to assess needs and explore how the funding can best align with local priorities. Meetings will be held throughout the City; A translator will be available at each meeting.

Find out what's happening in Oceanside-Camp Pendletonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. at the Civic Center Library Community Rooms located at 330 N. Coast Highway
  • Wednesday, November 10 at 6:00 p.m. at the El Corazon Aquatic & Event Center located at 3306 Senior Center Drive
  • Tuesday, November 16 at 6:00 p.m. at John Landes Recreation Center located at 2855 Cedar Road
  • Thursday, December 9, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. at Bishop Recreation Center located at 5306 N. River Road

Residents, businesses, and community organizations can also provide feedback through a survey. Take the Survey
Spanish: Responde la encuesta

Community input will help guide the use of the funds for immediate recovery needs and help maximize the impact in our community. The US Treasury released rules on the use of these funds. Use of Funds Fact Sheet

For more information, please contact the Housing & Neighborhood Services Department at 760-435-3360.


Have a news tip or suggestion on how we can improve Oceanside-Camp Pendleton Patch? Interested in advertising your business in Oceanside? Email any inquiries to me at lisa.frost@patch.com.

Follow the Oceanside Patch on Facebook and Twitter.

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?