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A bevy of local nonprofits could reap a reward of ARPA funding, but they have to apply for it first. And an application to do so has been finalized through the work of Select Board member Anthea Brady with an assist from Town Counsel Jay Talerman and Comptroller Stacie Ward.
Brady said $300,000 of ARPA funding was earmarked for Community Needs grants. The American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA is federal funding aimed at helping communities recover from the economic blow dealt by COVID-19.
Applications are available now and must be returned by Aug. 23. The applications will then be reviewed by Brady and Select Board member Bill McGongile and awards are expected to be made on Sept. 6.
Brady said the applications aimed at a specific purchase or that will be spent within the usage time frame of the ARPA funds will be given priority. ARPA funds must be under contract by 2024 and spent by Dec. 31, 2026.
The applications will also be evaluated on the number of residents impacted by the specific project, community benefit and the organization’s use of matching funds.
Select Board Chair Michelle Prior said the board would also have the option to cancel an award if there’s no evidence that a plan is in place to expend the money by Nov. 15.
“We want to make sure we’re expending all the ARPA funds, we’re not going to hold on to it and hope that someone gets it together by the end of the calendar year,” she said.
Brady said they are targeting local nonprofits that are quasi-governmental or that are fairly visible and those that showed prior interest in the grants. They include En Ka, the Housing Authority, Chamber of Commerce, WinCam, the Disability Access Commission, Coalition for a Safer Community, Winchester Cultural District, Community Music School, Wright-Locke Farm Conservancy, Council on Aging, Family Area Network, the Conservation Commission, ABC House, Network for Social Justice and the Farmers Market.
However, Prior said although it’s summer and a typically a slow time for everyone, they will try hard not to miss anyone who might be interested in applying.
“By talking about it publicly and hopefully doing some proactive outreach, we can hit people who may be interested,” she said.
She also said she had no idea if they’d be swamped with requests, but added the application itself was short, “so there shouldn’t be too much to read.”
