In 2021, Congress passed and President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act.
The economic stimulus bill — aimed at speeding America’s recovery from COVID — was hefty: $1.9 trillion.
A tiny slice –$8.4 million — made its way to Westport. But that’s hardly an insignificant sum.
ARPA funded 25 projects, in a variety of areas all over town. They range in cost from Town Hall Americans with Disabilities Act work ($1.7 million) to a high school/Westport Library jobs initiative ($25,000).
Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades to Town Hall are in the works. (Photo/Andrew Colabella)
The first tranche of $4.2 million included these approved projects:
- Burying Hill Beach groin: $1,300,000
- Westport Public Schools playgrounds: $439,000
- Parker Harding design and construction documents; Jesup lots design: $400,000
- Bus shelters II: $250,000
- Reimburse to the General Fund: $250,000
- Westport Public Schools outdoor classrooms: $216,056
- Allocation to the arts: $200,643
- Mental health and Human Services (stop gap): $185,000
- Bus shelters I: $150,000
- Feasibility study, West Parish/DOT site affordable housing project: $150,000
- Westport Public Schools Network Equipment: $105,974
- Cybersecurity: $100,000
- Tree trimming: $100,000
- Westport Public Schools High 5 Adventure Learning Center: $63,200
- Library technology improvements: $57,463
- High school/Westport Library jobs initiative: $25,000
(Photo/Peter Swift)
ARPA funds paid for work at Burying Hill Beach. (Photo/Peter Swift)
The total approved for those Tranche 1 projects is $3,992,335. The remaining $207,665 is earmarked for one of 5 projects in process: Jesup/Imperial parking lots design; permitting and geological evaluation for the Imperial lot.
An addition $422,335 for that project comes from Tranche 2.
The other 4 Tranche 2 projects in process are:
- Town Hall Americans with Disabilities Act: $1,700,000
- Senior Center cooling tower: $400,000
- Parks master plan: $225,000
- Wakeman Town Farm: $50,000
Four Tranche 2 projects are pending:
- Baron’s South improvements: $500,000
- Baron’s South road and parking: $300,000
- Emergency Medical Services fly cars: $160,000
- Aspetuck Health District (Bayberry Lane site) roof: $125,000
With all those projects funded, a balance of $317,665 remains.
ARPA funds will pay for improvements at Baron’s South. (Photo/Wendy Crowther)
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