On Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, the Cumberland County American Rescue Plan (ARP) Committee met at 3 p.m. in Room 564 of the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse.

The ARP Committee meets as needed to review and recommend funding and expenditures under the county’s ARP allocation.

The Committee is chaired by Board of Commissioners Vice Chairwoman Veronica Jones and includes Commissioners Jeanette Council and Pavan Patel. Commissioner Henry Tyson also attended the meeting.

Committee members discussed the following items:

During the June ARP Committee meeting, members asked staff to present a proposal for a mini version of the Community Impact Program.  With nonprofit funding available through the County’s General Fund ARP Freed-Up Capacity, staff recommended funding up to 30 mini-awards (six per eligibility category) under the same categories used in the main Community Impact Program. Awards will be for an amount up to $3,500 per selected nonprofit.

No additional funding approval is required for this mini-program as program funds were pre-approved as part of the County’s General Fund ARP Freed-Up Capacity. 

 The ARP Committee expects to open the application process for the Mini-Program by January 2026. A webinar will be held in advance to educate potential applicants about the application process and required materials.

The Committee voted unanimously to approve the Community Impact Mini-Program as presented contracts for the current round of Community Impact Program awards are being finalized and are expected to be executed by Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. The County is ensuring that all reimbursements meet program standards and aim to process reimbursements within 90-days after documentation submission.

No additional items of business were discussed.

"The Community Impact Program has made an impact on the nonprofits serving our residents, and this new mini-program will help extend that reach even further," said Vice Chairwoman Veronica Jones, who chairs the ARP Committee. "By offering smaller awards, we can support a wider range of organizations, especially those just getting started. Together, we are making sure that American Rescue Plan funds are used in ways that strengthen our community and improve lives."

The meeting adjourned at 3:35 p.m.

For more information about Cumberland County and upcoming meetings, visit cumberlandcountync.gov.

Editor's note: This article was updated on 09/19 to include corrections issued by the Cumberland County Public Information Office.