Salem ARPA Funding Survey

Swampscott is conducting a community-wide survey to solicit public input about how the town should allocate $4.5 million dollars in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Click HERE to take the survey. As a reminder, 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, making necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water
• 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

Besides mortgage assistance, no other housing related expenditure is listed on the Swampscott survey. However, there is a section asking, “What are some other uses of the ARPA funds that the Town of Swampscott should consider that was not listed?”, where you can write in other potential uses.

Updates, including future meetings and the results of the survey, will be posted on the NSR Blog.