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Barnstable County Announces $12,758,514 in ARPA Funding for Critical Regional Projects

ARPA Funding Approved for 17 County Projects with Regional Benefits

February 2, 2023 (Barnstable, MA) – Barnstable County approved $12,758,514 in ARPA funding for regional projects that will expand and sustain the County’s investment in water quality, affordable housing, post-COVID public health, emergency management needs, upgrades to County services, and investments in the County Dredge. 

“We are thrilled to announce the approval of this critical ARPA funding for County projects that will provide regional, long-term investments into Cape Cod. We would also like to thank the 6,000 members of the public that took their time to respond to our survey on ARPA priorities a year ago. This $12.8M in funding will work to address the priorities outlined by our communities,” said Mark Forest, Chair, Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners.

“These are tremendous projects that will benefit this region now and in the future,” said Patrick Princi, Speaker of the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates. “I’m pleased with the work of the Assembly Committees in conjunction with county administration in conducting a thorough review in a transparent way.”

Three sub-committees of the Assembly of Delegates – Committee on Health and Human Services, Committee on Public Services, and Committee on Finance all vetted the proposed projects through hours of testimony by staff and stakeholders and recommended the final approval of the funding for the projects.

List of Projects Approved: 
Broadband, Internet, and Cellular Network Assessment$400,000
Community Health Nursing Program Needs Assessment$285,000
Contract Epidemiologist$60,000
County Clean Water Finance Center$257,345
County Dredge Program Stabilization$1,012,500
County Emergency Preparedness Upgrades$399,114
County Housing Initiative Program Management$257,345
County Regional Water Initiative Management$257,345
County Water Quality Laboratory Enhancements$1,266,481
Digitization of County Processes and Records$1,000,000
Harmful Algal Bloom Assessment & Monitoring$237,526
Innovative/Alternative (I/A) Septic Responsible Management Entity$672,873
Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Technology Center (MASSTC)$1,383,086
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Remediation$4,000,000
PFAS Identification and Analysis Program$829,086
Regional Children’s Behavioral Health Needs Assessment$132,705
Regional Shared Housing Coordinator$308,108

The Board of Regional Commissioners and Assembly of Delegates thank the ARPA Advisory Committee for their dedication and hard work in making recommendations to invest ARPA funds to address regional priorities.  The ARPA Advisory Committee advised the Barnstable County Board of Commissioners and Assembly of Delegates on regional funding priorities and recommended criteria to identify projects of regional impact for funding.  

The ARPA Advisory Committee is comprised of leaders from Cape Cod, including Chair Paul Niedzwiecki (Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce), Dorothy Savarese (Cape Cod Five), Dan Wolf (Cape Air), Lisa Guyon (We Can), Sean Gonsalves (Institute for Local Self-Reliance), Wendy Northcross (JFK Hyannis Museum Foundation), Karen Gardner (Community Health Center of Cape Cod) and Kristin O’Malley (Cape Cod Foundation).

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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