CARES Act & ARPA
In a previous term, I devoted significant time and energy to administering federal funds given to Andrew County via the CARES Act and the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA).
- 61% of the funds were allocated to community-specific entities and projects that directly benefited Andrew County’s citizens, including:
- Andrew County Health Department
- Andrew County School Districts
- City of Savannah
- Village of Country Club
- Andrew County Ministries
- Abundant Acres (the county nursing home)
- United Fiber
- 3 water districts
- 25 small business located in Andrew County
- 18% of the funds were allocated to Andrew County Law Enforcement to ensure the safety of our citizens.
- 21% of the funds were allocated to other county-specific improvements.
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES)
In May 2020, Andrew County was awarded $2,077,971 from the U.S. Department of Treasury to address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the county and its citizens, institutions. and private businesses.
The county was required to abide by a rigid set of parameters prescribed in the act to address these issues. The commission partnered with the County Treasurer and the County Clerk to distribute the funds through a county grant program in an efficient, transparent, and equitable manner.
Andrew County’s distribution of the CARES funds includes:
- $775,814.15 (37.3%) to help the county recover from the effects of the pandemic and address safety issues arising from the pandemic, including funding support for First Responders, one of the top priorities of the act.
- $698,656.15 (33.6%) to various school districts within the county.
- $427,118.81 (20.6%) to the Andrew County Health Department, various municipalities, and other political entities within the county.
- $176,381.89 (8.5%) to help 25 unique private businesses recover from the effects of the pandemic.
American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA)
Following the administration CARES Act funds, Andrew County was awarded $3,440,348 from the U.S. Department of Treasury to address the lingering effects of the economic recession spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although the parameters for the administration of the ARPA funds weren’t as narrow as those in the CARES Act, the county once again needed a process to allocate funds in an efficient and transparent manner for the maximum benefit of the county.
Once more collaborating with the County Clerk and County Treasurer, the commission designed a plan to produce impactful, long-term benefits for the county.
The language in the act largely targeted infrastructure needs (particularly water, waste water, storm water, and fiberoptic access and connectivity). With this in mind, the County Commission allocated grants to fiberoptic providers, municipalities, and public water supply districts totaling nearly $1,300,000.
Additionally, the commission distributed funds through numerous Community Assistance and Improvement grants to a variety of entities, including:
- The Andrew County Nursing Home Board to address some infrastructure issues at the county-owned retirement home.
- Andrew County Ministries to expand their food pantry, which provides nourishment and resources Andrew County citizens facing difficult circumstances.
- Second Harvest Food Bank to increase the capacity of their cooler and freezer space. Second Harvest provides food (including proteins and perishable items) for a large region, including Andrew County.
The commission also used a portion of the ARPA funds to address internal issues for the county, as well. These projects include:
- Upgrading the courthouse HVAC system.
- Digitalization of county records.
- Enhancing the security infrastructure at the courthouse.
- Satisfying the “Local Match” for a grant awarded to the County Sheriff to purchase an imaging machine for the county jail.
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