How Should Marblehead Spend $6 Million In Rescue Act Funds?

MARBLEHEAD, MA — Marblehead is looking to determine the best use of an expected $6 million in American Recovery Plan funds over the next two years.

Town Administrator Jason Silva said the town received one payment of $3 million with a second installment of $3 million expected in August 2022. The Board of Selectmen recently approved criteria for funding consideration and Silva said a working group of stakeholders has been formed to come up with ideas and implementation plans for the pair of payments.

"There's a lot of work ahead," Silva said during his most recent video update on town projects. "It's a one-time opportunity to spend this money in a thoughtful, responsible way.

"There are a lot of needs in the town, which I think everyone recognizes and this is an exciting opportunity to use it for possibly some infrastructure projects, possibly some economic recovery and economic development, while also keeping in mind the financial stability of the town."

Because of the one-time nature of the funds, the town would have to assume future funding of an ongoing project launched through the Recovery Plan.

Silva said members of the working group may be reaching out to residents for more feedback.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

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