Barnstable County Awards ARPA Funds to the Town of Provincetown for $208,000 for Sewer Connection Grant Program

JANUARY 25, 2023 (BARNSTABLE, MA) – The Barnstable County Board of Commissioners and Assembly of Delegates announced the award and execution of a $208,000 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding grant from Barnstable County to the Town of Provincetown. The Board of Commissioners also addressed critical broadband infrastructure needs in our region and responded to proposed changes to Title 5 of the State Environmental Code and new regulations titled Watershed Permit Regulations 314 CMR 21.00.

An ARPA grant to the Town of Provincetown for $208,000 will support the Provincetown Sewer Connection Grant Program. This new grant program will assist residents with their connection costs for new municipal sewer service that will become available to their property. The Town’s sewer expansion project is critical to environmental resiliency efforts and will help approximately 250 properties, many of which are in flood zones, that currently have cesspools or sub-standard septic systems that can’t be replaced to meet current Title 5 requirements.

Since May 2022, Barnstable County has awarded ten grants to nine towns totaling $7,553,605.92. Mark Forest, Chair of the County Board of Commissioners, and Patrick Princi, Speaker of the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates are pleased to announce this critical funding together today and encourage additional towns to apply for their allocated funding immediately. 

“I’d like to thank the Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners for approving our application and awarding these funds to Provincetown,” said Provincetown Town Manager Alex B. Morse. “The $208,000 in ARPA funds are critical to helping us create a grant program for connection costs to assist residents as we expand our sewer infrastructure town-wide over the coming years.”

In addition to the ARPA grant awarded to the town of Provincetown today, Barnstable County has already awarded ARPA grants to the following Towns:

• Barnstable – $1,965,218.61 for the 720 Main Street Pump Station Replacement
• Bourne — $857,391.40 for the purchase of two custom-built Lifeline “Superliner” Class I Emergency Medical Vehicles and $107,115.00 to fund IT Infrastructure and Modernization for the Bourne Public Schools
• Eastham — $301,420.11 will go to the Replacement of Public Sector Revenue Loss
• Falmouth – $1,334,782.00 for Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades
• Mashpee — $664,229.94 for a Wastewater Town Project
• Orleans — $330,503 for the design and construction of key improvements to the Town’s drainage in the Meetinghouse Pond Sewer Area project
• Sandwich — $849,300.42 for a Clean Water Improvement Project for the Sandwich Public Schools
• Yarmouth — $1,042,760.57 for the Town of Yarmouth’s Wastewater Infrastructure design phase 

To date, the Barnstable County Board of Commissioners has allocated over $40 Million in ARPA funding.  The U.S. Treasury requires that ARPA funds be obligated by 12/31/24 and expended by 12/31/26. Additional information on Barnstable County’s ARPA program can be found here.

In other news, the County Commissioners unanimously voted to support Resolution 23-01, urging Governor Maura Healy and all of Cape Cod’s federal and state lawmakers to address critical broadband infrastructure requirements and develop last-mile connectivity on Cape Cod.

Today, Commissioners discussed proposed revisions to Title 5 of the State Environmental Code and new Watershed Permit Regulations (314 CMR 21.00). The Commissioners unanimously voted to write a letter to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)endorsing and reiterating the issues posed by the Cape Cod Commission. They concurred in their comments that they support planned improvements to safeguard our local watersheds and lessen the impact of nitrogen discharges on surface water quality; nevertheless, there are still unanswered questions, including how new regulations would be paid for.

County Commissioners voted to amend an existing grant supporting the Department of Human Services and their efforts on behalf of unaccompanied homeless youth and those at risk. The grant will be increased by $218,318 which will allow a community partner to employ a 30-hour-per-week Peer Navigator, stipends for a PILOT Host-Homes program, provide emergency shelter for homeless youth in the area, and compensate teenage members who are making meaningful contributions through membership on the Youth Action Board (YAB).

The Barnstable County Board of Commissioners approved a grant agreement between the Massachusetts Department of Community and Development and the Cape Cod Commission in the amount of $321,665 for the District Local Technical Assistance program from January 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.  Each year, the Cape Cod Commission receives funding through the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development to provide technical assistance to towns in our region. The DLTA program helps municipalities with sustainable development and encourages partnerships to achieve planning and development goals that align with state and regional priorities.   Learn more by visiting: https://www.capecodcommission.org/our-work/dlta/

County Commissioners also approved the appointment of Greg Bilezikian and Cindy Horgan to the Barnstable County Economic Development Council, as well as the reappointment of Robert Talerman and Tammi Jacobsen.

Several departments proceeded with their proposed fiscal year 2024 operating budget presentations, including Children’s Cove, Dredge, Health and Environment, and Human Services.

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO WATCH OR JOIN A FUTURE COMMISSIONERS’ MEETING Members of the public are encouraged to visit the Barnstable County Meeting Center at www.capecod.gov to access the Commissioners’ calendar, meeting agendas, information on how to participate, or links to the live-streamed meetings on YOUTUBE.  Barnstable County provides reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities upon request. Contact Justyna Marczak, Barnstable County ADA/Non-Discrimination Coordinator, jmarczak@capecod.gov or call 508-375-6646.

ABOUT BARNSTABLE COUNTY REGIONAL BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS On January 3, Commissioner Ronald Bergstrom was sworn in for his second term as Barnstable County Regional Commissioner. Commissioner Mark Forest was appointed Chair.  Barnstable County Commissioners serve four-year terms, which are staggered so that all three positions don’t come up for election at the same time.  Current Board Members: Mark Forest, Chair (Yarmouth) Term: 2021-2024; Ronald Bergstrom, Vice-Chair (Chatham) Term: 2023-2026; Sheila Lyons, Commissioner (Wellfleet) Term: 2021-2024. Learn more about the Board of Regional Commissioners HERE.

ABOUT BARNSTABLE COUNTY REGIONAL GOVERNMENT OF CAPE COD Barnstable County provides exemplary government functions and services to keep our community healthy and safe, promote sustainable growth, and offer a proactive, open government that enhances the quality of life for the citizens of Barnstable County. Learn more at  www.capecod.gov. 

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