ARPA as of the end of August 2023
I am pround of how we have spent the City of Ferndale’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Since the beginning – We worked with Council to establish guiding priorities for using ARPA funds $4.1 Million:
- Eligible expense
- Unique opportunity
- Biggest Bang for the buck
- Lasting impact on the community
Focused on:
- Social Services
- Economic Recovery
- Tourism Assets
- Government services
- Infrastructure
To date we’ve used approximately $3 million – Evenly distributed among the priorities above and we have until the end of 2024 to use the funds. At this time (end of September 2023) we have aproximately $900,000 remaining. We can use these funds on the upcoming water treatment plant expansion and save every water customer a few dollars on their water bill for a year? Or, We can continue to use the remainder of the funds to:
- Give one last push of grants downtown businesses?
- Help us rebuild the stage in Pioneer Park,
- Add some funds to the skate park budget go hedge against the additional costs due to inflation?
- Make sure that the Ferndale Community Services’ Utility Fund has funds to help struggling individuals for years to come?
- And a host of other ideas?
- OR we can do a little of both.
Ultimately – this will be the City Council’s decision!
Greg Hansen for Ferndale Mayor 