American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
About ARPA
In 2022, the Town of Bellefonte received $110,841.42 from the U.S. Treasury, via the State of Delaware Treasurer’s Office, for the purpose of dispensing such funds under the guidance put forward by the U.S. Treasurer, pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) as approved by Congress on March 6, 2021, and signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021.
The expressed intent of ARPA is to 1) Respond to the COVID-19 emergency and address its economic effects, including through aid to households, small businesses, nonprofits, and industries such as tourism and hospitality; 2) Provide premium pay to essential employees or grants to their employers. Premium pay couldn’t exceed $13 per hour or $25,000 per worker; 3) Provide government services affected by a revenue reduction resulting from COVID-19; and 4) Make investments in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.
The Town of Bellefonte held two duly-noticed Public Hearings on May 10 and July 12, the Town Commission solicited testimony from residents, representatives of non-profit agencies, and business owners, and has developed the following framework for dispensing ARPA funds to achieve the goals of the act for Bellefonte’s residents and businesses:
Bellefonte ARPA Program Budget (2021)
| 2021 Strategies | Status | 2021 Allocation |
| ARPA4 – Resolution approving receipt of ARPA funds from US Treasury | Approved | $0 |
| ARPA3 – Business District Beautification to Increase consumer | Approved Tranche #3 | $15,000 ($8000 unspent) |
| ARPA2 – Advertising/Marketing Campaign to increase consumer traffic in business districts | Approved Tranche #2 | $40,000 |
| ARPA1 – Direct Relief to Small Businesses in districts | Approval Tranche #1 – grants awarded to 11 small business owners damaged by the pandemic | $30,000 |
| ARPA5 – Donations to 501c3 Nonprofits who aided residents during the pandemic | Approved | $5,000 ($1,000 unspent) |
| ARPA6 – Residents who did pay their real estate taxes in 2019, but did NOT pay them in 2020. | Not approved/no action | |
| ARPA7 – Winter Business Promotional Campaign to promote consumer traffic in business districts, Dec 21-Jun 22 | Approved – funds administered by Bellefonte Town Commission by reimbursement | $5,000 |
| ARPA8 – 2022 Marketing/Digital Advertising Campaign in support of consumer traffic in business districts | Approved | $15,000 |
| Legal fees/admin | $3,000 | |
| TOTAL 2021 grant | $111,712.50 |
2022 1st Tranche Compliance Report – submitted 4-30-22
ARPA Grant 2022 – 2nd Tranche
| Digital Media and Marketing Consulting Services | Up to $45,000 | Approved Resolution ARPA9-2022 6/13/22 |
| ShopsofBellefonte.com website management | Up to $2,400 | Approved 9/11/22 |
| Resolution ARPA10 – Holiday Marketing Campaign | Up to $10,000 | Approved 10/10/22 |
| Resolution ARPA11 – Additional Business Marketing Allocation | Up to $10,000 | Approved 10/10/22 |
| Digital and Marketing Campaign Contract, Cultivate Forward | $63,000 | Approved 1/2022 |
| Brandywine Business District Beautification | $4,000 | Approved 6/2023 |
| Donations to 501c3 agencies (St. Helena Food Pantry, Kutz Nursing Home, Brandywine Hundred Fire Co.) | $4,000 | Approved 10/9/2023 |
| Digital and Marketing Campaign Contract, Extension Jan 2024 – Mar 2024 | Up to $20,000 | Approved 11/13/2023 |
Legislative Action (updated 10/11/21)
ARPA Resolutions:
Resolution 2021 – ARPA4 – Receiving ARPA Funds
Resolution 2021 – ARPA3 – Business District Beautification
Resolution 2021 – ARPA2 – Advertising Program for Business Districts
Resolution 2021 – ARPA1 – Direct Business Relief
Resolution 2021 – ARPA5 – Donations to Nonprofits
Resolution 2021-ARPA6 – Not approved at this time
Resolution 2022 – ARPA8 – Small Business Marketing/Digital Media Support – adopted 2-14-22
Resolution 2022 – ARPA9 – Digital Media Marketing Support – adopted 6/13/22
Resolution 2022 – ARPA10 – Holiday Marketing Campaign (passed 10/10/22)
Resolution 2022 – ARPA11 – Additional Business Marketing Allocation (passed 10/10/22)