County commissioners award about $30 million in ARP money to numerous local projects
LANCASTER — The Fairfield County commissioners on Tuesday doled out more than $30 million in American Rescue Plan money for numerous local projects.
The projects were grouped into five categories — infrastructure, housing, workforce and economic development, social services and county operations.
The money comes from the federal government with the purpose of helping communities deal with the various issues the COVID-19 pandemic caused.
"We're celebrating today," commission president Jeff Fix said. "We’ve worked diligently to align and promote projects that work within the ARP rules, meet the needs of the county strategic plan, and touch as many people in Fairfield County as possible. These projects change lives and build our tomorrow."
He said all of the projects are to benefit Fairfield County residents.
MORE: How is Fairfield County spending American Rescue Plan money?
The Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health board and Lutheran Social Services were two of the biggest winners as they will share $3 million to take on the county's homelessness issue.
ADAMH Executive Director Marcy Fields said the money will go a long way in helping the homeless.
"We recognize that the housing issues in our community really are continual," she said. "There's a wide range of people that are having trouble finding housing. The most vulnerable with the fewest resources are the ones really feeling the brunt of this. The ones that we're seeing in tent cities or living on somebody's couch. We decided to start with that population."
The commissioners also gave the county's workforce center in Carroll $2 million to expand its services.
Baltimore officials will receive $613,000 for critical waterline replacement. Village administrator Teri Wise said the money means a lot to small villages like Baltimore.
"Infrastructure is a tricky thing to get funding for," she said. "I'm very appreciative of this. This project alone will directly impact 53 residents in the village. When I started at the village about five or six years ago, I made a promise that I would do all of my due diligence to make sure that I could find funding without passing the costs along to my village residents."
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Projects and subgrants will begin in the coming months and will need to be completed by Dec. 31, 2026.
Here is the complete list of projects and the amount the Fairfield County commissioners awarded them as they distributed about $30 million to various local projects:
Housing
$3 million subgrant to the Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health board and Lutheran Social Services to expand the homeless shelter and build supportive housing.
$610,000 subgrant to Habitat for Humanity to build houses and affordable housing in Fairfield County.
$48,000 contract with Southeast Ohio Legal Services for pandemic related eviction assistance.
$40,000 contract for the local housing coalition strategic plan to address homelessness and affordable housing.
Workforce Development and Economic Development
$2 million for expansion of the Fairfield County Workforce Development Center to allow for the creation of additional programs to support the need for a robust workforce with advanced skills in trades and technology.
$200,000 for Smart Growth plan for Fairfield County.
$150,000 for business consulting service to improve recruitment and retention for Fairfield County businesses.
$500,000 subgrant to Fairfield County Agricultural Society to improve fair operations.
$100,000 grant writing assistance for cities, townships, and villages.
Social Services and Aid to non-profits
$501,000 to the Fairfield County Juvenile Court for the creation of a community-based truancy program to enhance intervention with parents and youth.
$500,000 subgrant to Salvation Army to offset costs of the adult daycare program which was impacted by closure during the pandemic.
$100,000 to the Lighthouse domestic violence shelter to aid operations impacted by the pandemic.
$252,643 for child protection case management services.
Community Safety and County Operations:
$520,000 to build upgrade for a new Multi-Agency Radio Communication System (MARCS) emergency responder radio tower for the Lancaster area allowing improved radio communications for first responders.
$560,000 for new emergency response dispatch consoles.
$5,000,000 for purchase and renovation of the Fairfield Center located in northwest Fairfield County which allows for an expanded sheriff substation in the Pickerington/Violet Township area, an upgraded title office with drive through service and other government service offerings for the northwest area.
$400,000 to Fairfield County Clerk of Court for upgrade to allow for electronic case filing.
$1,149,327 for public health and public safety payroll support.
$ 2 million for computer aided dispatch software for sheriff’s office.
Infrastructure:
$659,000 subgrant to village of Pleasantville for critical water tower refurbishment.
$613,000 subgrant to village of Baltimore for critical waterline replacement.
$750,000 subgrant to Walnut Creek sewer district for critical expansion of wastewater treatment plant.
$139,000 to Hunter’s Run conservancy district for infrastructure study.
$3 million to Fairfield County utilities for critical infrastructure improvement in water and sewer.
$500,000 for broadband support.
jbarron@gannett.com
740-681-4340
Twitter: @JeffDBarron
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: County awards about $30 million in ARP money to local projects
