American Recovery Act Program

The Town of Bradford will receive a total of $807,399.18 in federal funds. Municipalities must obligate the money by 2024 and spend funds through December 31, 2026. The Selectboard is seeking comments from interested citizens regarding how and what the money should be spent on.

Uses of funding are as follows (guidelines put in place by the federal government):

Support public health expenditures, by funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral healthcare, and certain public health and safety staff.
Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, including economic harms to workers, households, small businesses, impacted industries, and the public sector.
Replace lost public sector revenue, using this funding to provide government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue experienced due to the pandemic.
Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, making necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, support vital wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and to expand access to broadband internet.

ARPA FUNDING IDEAS FROM 10/12/21 MEETING:

Purchasing equipment for zoom meetings at the Bradford Academy building.
Updating the air system at the Bradford Academy building.
Purchasing an air system for the Bradford Library.
Giving money to nonprofits for loss of revenue during the COVID19 pandemic.
Cell boosters/public Wi-Fi for Downton Bradford.
Outdoor ideas, such as dining areas, pathway through the marsh, (things for people to do outside).
Creativity through Town Forests, such as outdoor meetings.
Match money for future grants.
Providing summer programming for children and afterschool programming.
Wi-Fi at Elizabeth’s Park.
Support and increase capacity for childcare centers.
Broadband/Wi-Fi access at the Park & Ride/Transportation Center.
Elizabeth’s Park bathroom ventilation.
Old Church Theater updates, and drainage of the oldest building in Bradford.
Hiring a person to work on economic development in Bradford.
Creating grants for new businesses and entrepreneurs.
Contract with a grant manager to manage grants.
Give money or partner with mental health facilities.
Expanding the sewer line to the Upper Plain and/or Bradford Center.
Updating the Wastewater Plant.
New Town Center- single story building.
Additional staffing to manage the ARPA grant fund.
Provide seed money to developers for housing development.
Provide money to landlords to update their rental buildings.
Provide money to residents that want to buy houses in Town.
Updating the Town of Bradford website.
Creating online land records search.
Improving the public health infrastructure to include supporting LRHC, access to food for migrant farmers, senior center, paying for drivers to deliver food.
Tax or rent subsidies for small businesses in Downtown area/to support attract new & existing businesses.
Improving recreational facilities and programming