By Glenn Rolfe

GEORGETOWN — Sussex Countians will have access to more affordable housing, a cleaner environment and improved public safety, thanks to federal dollars to help the community move past the pandemic.

On Tuesday, County Council endorsed recommendations by staff on how to utilize American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Under finance director Gina A. Jennings’ plan, Sussex County will spend more than $45 million on public safety, affordable housing, economic recovery, wastewater infrastructure, information technology security and low-income services.

Signed into law in March 2021, ARPA established the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, intended to assist governments nationwide with pandemic recovery.

Based on population and other factors, Sussex County will receive nearly $45.5 million. It received half in May 2021. The second half is expected to be distributed in May of this year.

All funds must be committed to eligible projects by Dec. 31, 2024.

“There is no doubt the coronavirus has had a profound effect on virtually every aspect of life, and it has exacerbated or exposed many needs in communities all across the country, including right here in Sussex County,” said County Council President Michael H. Vincent.

“While the county is fortunate to be in a strong, stable financial position overall, that does not diminish the fact that COVID has created a tremendous strain, with shuttered businesses, the housing squeeze or increased demands on our health care systems.

Hopefully, these funds and the programs they support will go a long way to helping all of us in the recovery ahead.”

Ms. Jennings said the idea is not to grow government but sustain what is in place.

“As a person who is responsible to present a budget to council, I want to be able to sustain that moving forward and not create a program that we’re going to have to raise taxes in order to sustain,” she said. “Once the (ARPA) funds are gone, they are gone. We can’t assume there is going to be more. So most of my recommendations are going (to) strengthen the programs and services that we already have in place today.”

The estimated breakdown:

• $25 million for sewer infrastructure, including treatment and disposal upgrades to some wastewater facilities.
• $6.3 million for affordable housing, specifically to enhance Sussex’s new Housing Trust Fund, which provides grants to nonprofits and other groups.
• $5 million in grants to nonprofit entities, including hospitals, for eligible expenses in response to the health emergency.
• $3 million for IT security upgrades to help protect water and sewer infrastructure.
• $2 million for low-income services, including housing rehabilitation and programs for sewer connection fee assistance.
• $1.4 million for eight additional employees in the Emergency Operations Center and Emergency Medical Services departments.
• $500,000 for the kitchen incubator initiative to bolster training in the hospitality and tourism industry.
• $250,000 for intergovernmental grants for other programs for COVID-19 response efforts.

Ms. Jennings noted that the finance staff will closely monitor all funding and reevaluate the distribution of dollars should other needs arise.

“This is a big deal. It’s $45.5 million,” she said. “It is going to take a team to manage these funds.”

Residents can monitor the allocation of funding through a new portal on the county’s website, she added.

For information, visit here.