Cumberland County is in the final phase of collecting survey results from residents regarding how it should spend American Rescue Plan dollars.

Residents are invited to a public virtual meeting tonight (July 29) to hear information and provide feedback to county officials.

Residents may join the sesion and participate in the polling by and going online to slido.com and enter code 517527 in the blue bar at the top of the site’s front page. The survey is also posted on the County’s website at cumberlandcountync.gov/ARP and will close on July 31.

Cumberland county’s share of $350 billion in federal funds is $65 million, which is earmarked for economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cumberland County is following the model provided by the federal government to assist in countering the economic impacts related of COVID-19.

According to Cumberland County officials, eligible uses for the funds include the following:

Support public health expenditures. Fund COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral healthcare, and address disparities for health outcomes. 

Address negative economic impacts. Respond to economic impact to workers, households, small businesses, impacted industries, and the public sector.

Provide premium pay for essential workers. Offer additional support to those who have borne and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical infrastructure sectors. 

Invest in water and sewer infrastructure. Make necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water and invest in sewer infrastructure.

Invest in broadband infrastructure. Make necessary investments to provide unserved or underserved locations with new or expanded broadband service.