$1 million Community Block Grant disbursed
By FRED SWIFT
A plan for the distribution of Hamilton County’s $65 million share of American Rescue Plan Act funds was adopted Monday by County Commissioners.
The federally mandated plan lists 73 possible uses for the COVID relief money ranging from COVID vaccination expenses to stormwater control projects.
The idea is to compensate government agencies, small business and community service organizations for lost revenue experienced during last year’s national pandemic. The 12-page local plan is available for inspection at the County Auditor’s office. And, applications from eligible agencies can soon be made online at the county’s website, hamiltoncounty.in.gov.
Actually, the county has already distributed about $3.5 million in bonus pay to essential employees who worked during the pandemic. But, the bulk of the money will be allocated during the next two years.
In a meeting that largely concerned financial distributions, commissioners also approved a Noblesville Housing Authority plan to distribute more than $1 million in Community Block Grant funds to local municipalities and organizations. For Noblesville, Westfield, Fishers, Carmel and county government, most of the $1,092,260 goes for infrastructure projects.
Prevail and Family Promise of Hamilton County received $58,500 and $10,000, respectively, for assistance to the homeless.