Applications Open For New Round Of Brookline ARPA Funding

BROOKLINE, MA — Brookline is kicking off the process of distributing its second batch of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money this year, officials announced on Friday.

This round of money will be awarded for the 2024 fiscal year, officials said. Applicants will first go before the Brookline American Rescue Plan Act Submission Review Subcommittee, which will recommend specific proposals for approval by the Brookline Select Board this spring.

The subcommittee will hold public virtual meetings to consider proposals on the following dates:

• Feb. 17, 2 p.m. join here
• March 3, 2 p.m. join here
• March 17, 11 a.m. join here
• March 24, 2 p.m. join here
• March 31, 2 p.m. join here
• April 7, 2 p.m. join here

Interested applicants can register and complete town ARPA funding applications online here. Applications are due at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act into law in 2021. The act sent money to various recipients with the goal of supporting efforts to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. Individual municipalities received some ARPA money, which is now being distributed to local projects and causes.

Brookline announced recipients of its first round of funding totaling $22.4 million in October of last year. The first round money represented just under half of Brookline's total $43 million ARPA allocation.

Round one funding included nearly $200,000 for a pedestrian safety study, $6 million to support maintenance and capital needs work east the Brookline Housing Authority’s Egmont Street Veterans and Trustman Apartments and $300,000 to help the Brookline Food Pantry expand and maintain its operations.

General guidelines allow ARPA funding to be used for the following purposes, as noted by the town of Brookline last week:

• Supporting public health response efforts or addressing negative economic impacts
• Replacing public sector revenue loss
• Establishing premium pay for essential workers
• Investments in water, sewer or broadband infrastructure
• Investment in a wide range of community-oriented projects

See more information on Brookline’s American Rescue Plan Act funding distribution process here.