Haverhill Community Meeting to Discuss ARPA Funding

A Haverhill community meeting was held on Monday, August 1st. Residents had the chance to provide input about how the city should allocate $30 million dollars in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

Communities may use ARPA funds in the following ways:

• Development, repair, and operation of affordable housing and services or programs to increase long-term housing security
• Investment in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure
• Provide premium pay for essential workers
• Help households, small businesses, impacted industries, nonprofits, and the public sector recover from economic impacts
• Replace lost public sector revenue

Examples of acceptable affordable housing related expenditures include:

• Funding for new construction and substantial rehabilitation of affordable housing
• Acquisition of land for future development
• Down payment and mortgage assistance
• Acquisition of properties that will be transitioned into affordable housing
• Financing of loans (that fit a specific criteria) that supports affordable housing investments
• Predevelopment activity and site work to lay the ground for affordable housing development

Those who cannot attend are encouraged to fill out the following survey provided by the city: American Rescue Plan Act Funding Prioritization Survey

Updates about how Haverhill plans to allocate ARPA funding will be posted on the NSR Blog.