$161 Million In Recovery Funding At Work In Montco

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — More than 100 Montgomery County businesses have received millions in federal pandemic recovery funding, and several of those projects are already effecting changes in the local community.

A total of 112 businesses and nonprofits countywide have received $161.4 million in America Rescue Plan funding since Aug. 2022.

"From bolstering public health infrastructure to supporting small businesses, from enhancing our educational systems to strengthening community services, the ARPA funds have touched every corner of our county,” Montgomery County Commissioner Ken E. Lawrence Jr. said. “These funds have been a catalyst for transformative change across Montgomery County, enabling us to undertake initiatives that have and will significantly enhance the quality of life for our residents."

Of the projects that were funded, 79 percent, or $87 million in investments, have begun. Roughly 19 percent of them are complete, according to local leaders.

Specifically, officials pointed to the Food Policy Council, which is working to strengthen the local food system, and the Housing Opportunities Fund, an affordable housing construction project that is working to build 325 new units across the county, as an example of the most "transformative" projects.

“The stories of change, the lives touched, the future lives that will be impacted…and the communities uplifted stand as a testament to what we can achieve when we work together," Commissioner Jamila Winder added.

Other funding has gone toward dozens of community fire stations (full list here) as well as nearly 700 veteran, minority, or women owned small businesses.

One of the recipients was Norristown's ACLAMO (Accíon Comunal Latino Americano de Montgomery County), a relief organization working to help the Latino community in Montgmery County.

“Beyond bricks and mortar physical renovation, the funds have transformed this space into a safe, welcoming haven for the community, offering vital services, educational resources, and a place to connect and learn," said Nelly Jimenez-Arevalo, CEO and executive director of ACLAMO. "The impact extends beyond ACLAMO, turning our community center into a vital hub for collaboration, where nonprofits, elected officials, and government agencies converge to connect with each other and the community."