Salem To Host American Rescue Plan Funds Public Forum

Salem MA

12 November, 2021

10:33 AM

Description

SALEM, MA — Salem will hold a second public input session on how to spend about $35 million in funding through the American Rescue Plan. The funds will be received over the next two years and must be spent by Dec. 31, 2024. The funding is intended to respond to the coronavirus health crisis and its negative economic impacts, which includes assistance to households, businesses, non-profits and industries such as tourism, travel and hospitality. Other uses of the funds could be paying workers who provided essential services during the public health emergency, paying for services that were reduced because of revenue shortages during the pandemic and making improvements in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure. "Our goal now is to seek input and feedback from our community to help structure the city's use of this funding," Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll said. "Salem residents rightly expect that we will be transparent and thoughtful with respect to this federal funding. "There is no shortage of capital needs and this aid will provide an opportunity to plan and leverage resources for the benefit of everyone in our community." The virtual session will be available here via Zoom on Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. or residents can join by phone at 888-475-4499 and entering the ID number 833 8650 4227. Those who cannot attend the meeting virtually can submit comments in writing to City of Salem, Att: Federal Funds Manager, Salem City Hall, 93 Washington Street, Salem MA, 01970, or via email to [email protected]. Did you find this article useful? Invite a friend to subscribe to Patch. (Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)