When Kent County had a problem, its citizens stepped up to the plate -- in droves. The problem was choosing the best way to allocate $127 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. The county held six community forums and met with 33 organizations over the summer.
An online survey received 3,337 responses with community health the top priority. More than 1,500 ideas were submitted including affordable housing, community policing and renewable energy. Community organizations and county departments submitted a total of 333 proposals, adding up to more than $2 billion dollars.
Now the county has a new problem -- a too many ideas. An external consultant and an internal review committee are looking over the proposals and gathering additional information if needed. The goal is for the county commissioners to allocate the funds by the end of the year.
If you want to follow the process, visit KentCountyARPA.com.
