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County to move forward on ARPA digital-equity interlocal and select homeless-services and land-trust proposals
Summary
Durham staff said ARPA implementation is in a late stage: a proposed $750,000 interlocal with the city will subsidize internet access for public facilities and income-qualified households, school capital/pre-K ILAs are being finalized, and two procurement streams (land-trust investment and a homeless-services RFP) are near award.
Staff from the county manager's office and grants team updated the board on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) project progress and deadlines. They emphasized the obligation deadline (encumber by Dec. 31, expend by 2026) and described near-term items that will return for board authorization.
Highlights: County staff said they have an interlocal agreement ready for review with the City of Durham for a $750,000 digital equity investment that would fund direct internet access at public facilities and subsidies for income-qualified households, plus workforce exposure/training for youth and programming for seniors and communal living facilities. Grants staff said ILAs with Durham Public Schools (school capital and pre-K) were under final review to ensure compliance and will be brought back to the board this month. Procurement updates: the Land Trust Investment Program had two strong proposals under evaluation with a recommendation expected soon; the homeless-services RFP closed with four high-quality proposals and staff said they had a tentative selection to present to the board in the coming weeks.
Commissioners sought clarification on beneficiary identification (how households, seniors and youth will be selected) and program metrics; staff committed to providing more detailed scopes and outreach/eligibility plans before approving interlocal agreements. The board noted the compliance and reporting burdens inherent to ARPA funds and the need to keep partners informed about timetable and deliverables.
