Town seeks community input on how to spend federal Covid funds

The Town of Dartmouth has launched an online survey to ask residents how they think the town should spend money from the American Rescue Plan Act.

The $1.9 trillion federal economic stimulus bill was passed in March to speed up the U.S. economic and health recovery from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

According to Town Administrator Shawn MacInnes, the Town of Dartmouth will see roughly $10 million in federal funds.

“Like any funding, $10 million seems like a lot of money, but in this day and age… $10 million will not go as far as many people might think it will,”he said. “We’re trying to be as prudent and cost-effective with the funding that we do use.”

Money can only be spent on four main goals: replace public sector revenue loss; support public health responses; mitigate negative economic impacts; and to make investments in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure. 

“We’d like to put [money] toward projects that have a long-term impact on the community,” MacInnes said.

To submit ideas for how the Town of Dartmouth should spend its federal funds, visit engagedartmouth.org/.