Halifax County commissioners today approved a grant project ordinance for the allocation of its $9.73 million share of American Rescue Plan Act funds.
The county agreed to allocate $2.5 million of the funds for broadband infrastructure development either through partnership with one or more internet service providers through the Great Grant Program or through the state and its Completing Access to Broadband program.
Of the 18 categories of funding, only two — the broadband and $200,000 in emergency paid sick leave — are not related to salaries and benefits.
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The grant project ordinance expires on December 31, 2026, or when all the funds have been expended, the ordinance says.
The county has already received its first allotment and the second allotment of $4,856,928 is expected to be distributed in the latter part of June.
County Attorney Glynn Rollins said the ARPA funds are expected to free up funding that the county can set aside for capital projects. He also said four internet service providers have already approached the county.
Recreation partners grants
In another matter the recreation partners program grant review committee met late last month and reviewed 16 applications from organizations across the county.
Assistant County Manager Christina Wells said there was a total of $131,109.25 in requests.
There were 13 projects which were funded for a total of $50,000.
Wells said the grant recipients represent a wide cross section of the county with three projects each funded in Enfield, Hollister/Littleton and Scotland Neck and four in Roanoke Rapids. “You could not have asked for the recreation grants to be spread any better.”
