Brookline’s ARPA Subcommittee Now Reviewing Funding Proposals

BROOKLINE, MA — The Town of Brookline’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Submission Review Subcommittee has started reviewing proposals for funding, according to Co-Chairs Miriam Aschkenasy and John VanScoyoc.

The ARPA Submission Review Subcommittee is tasked with reviewing submitted proposals to draw from approximately $40 million in federal funding and making final recommendations for funding to the Select Board. The first half of the funding will be awarded for Fiscal Year 2023 and the remainder will be awarded in Fiscal Year 2024.

Applicants have until Friday, March 18 to submit requests for funding to be considered in the first round of awards. Applications can be submitted here.

ARPA is intended to support the U.S. effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in myriad ways, including offsetting the economic impact of the pandemic and supporting public health efforts meant to curb the spread of the virus. The federal government has given local jurisdictions discretion over how to spend the money to ensure funding responds to the wide range of community needs.

Brookline’s funding can be used for the following efforts:

• Supporting public health response efforts or addressing negative economic impacts
• Replacing public sector revenue loss
• Establishing premium pay for essential workers
• Investments in water, sewer or broadband infrastructure

The subcommittee will have public meetings Fridays at 2 p.m. going forward, which will be recorded and made available for viewing by the public. The subcommittee will work toward sending a slate of proposals to the Select Board by April 19 and will host a joint public hearing with the Select Board on Monday, April 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. The proposals' scores on rubrics completed by the subcommittee and town staff will be available to the public prior to the hearing.

Speakers at the public hearing will be strictly limited to 90 seconds in order to facilitate as much feedback as possible during the hearing. Residents may also submit comments and feedback via email at ARPAReview@brooklinema.gov.

To access all publicly available information about ARPA in Brookline, visit the American Rescue Plan Fund tracker here.