Brookline Launches Website To Track Use Of ARPA Funds

BROOKLINE, MA — Brookline has launched an interactive website that allows residents and stakeholders to track the town's use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and provide feedback.

The ARPA, which was signed into law on March 11, is intended to help local communities fight and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic by offsetting economic impacts and supporting public health efforts. Of the $1.9 trillion package, $360 billion will benefit the Coronavirus State and Local Recovering Fund, through which Brookline will receive a total of $32.4 million.

“This funding has the potential to benefit our community in diverse and lasting ways,” said Town Administrator Mel Kleckner in a statement. “An important part is ensuring that our residents and stakeholders have a say in how that funding would be best utilized in order to have the most widespread impact, so I encourage residents to take advantage of the opportunity to provide their input and take part in this important process.”

Through Brookline's new interactive website, locals can track ARPA applications and awards and provide direct input on how the money is being used in the town. One feature of the new site is the budget challenge tool, which allows residents to indicate how they would allocate $100 of the funding in specific ways.

Along with local assistance, the ARPA also allocates hundreds of billions of dollars for public health, vaccines, assistance for vulnerable populations, education, housing, economic recovery assistance, and direct assistance for families and individuals.

Brookline's ARPA website is available here. To apply for funding, click here.