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Town Manager Says ARPA Funds Committed; South County YMCA Told to Apply for Annual Grants
Summary
The South County YMCA requested $80,000 in ARPA funds for infrastructure repairs, but town staff reported most ARPA allocations have been committed to projects (EMS building, façade grants, Old Mountain Field, etc.), leaving no unallocated ARPA funds; staff encouraged the YMCA to apply to the town's annual outside-agency grants.
The South County YMCA requested $80,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds at the Dec. 9 council meeting to address infrastructure: hot-water storage ($20,000), HVAC repairs ($52,000) and pool-stair replacement ($6,400). Catherine Gressens, executive director of the South County YMCA, said the branch provides early-childhood education, swim lessons, senior programs and financial assistance and that the requested funds would support safe, accessible operations.
Town finance staff reported that the town received roughly $9 million in ARPA funds and previously allocated large portions: about $1.8 million to EMS building, $1.2 million to a façade-improvement program, $500,000 for a harbor master, and $2.8 million to Old Mountain Field. After bids for Old Mountain Field came in substantially higher than estimates, staff said there are no unallocated ARPA funds remaining to award. "We will not have any funds available with the American Rescue Plan Act to give to anyone," the manager said during the meeting.
Staff advised the YMCA to apply to the town's annual Human Services/Outside Agency grant program; council members expressed support for the YMCA and recognized the organization's community role but confirmed that ARPA funds are not available to fulfill the request at this time.
