OLD LYME — The Old Lyme Board of Selectmen will hold a Special Town Meeting this evening, Tuesday, July 5, at 7:30 p.m. in the Meeting Hall at the Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall at 52 Lyme St.
This meeting will consider and act upon the following single agenda item:
Whether to approve the disbursement of $2,120,593 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, as outlined in the report of the Old Lyme American Rescue Plan Committee (APRC) report dated June 21, 2022, and as recommended by the Old Lyme Boards of Selectmen and Finance on June 21.
The Special Town Meeting will be conducted in person only.
Copies of the proposed ARPA disbursements are available in the Town Clerk’s office and on the Town of Old Lyme website.
In summary, the disbursement recommendations are as follows:-
- 23 small businesses (< 500 employees per the US Treasury Department) applied for and met the requirements to receive grants up to $10,000, having substantiated pandemic-related economic loss occurring between March 3, 2021 and April 1, 2022. Twenty-two of the 23 grants recommended are for $10,000.
- 10 nonprofit organizations (501c3) applied for and met the requirements to receive grants up to $10,000, having substantiated pandemic-related economic loss occurring between March 3, 2021 and April 1, 2022. Eight of the 10 grants recommended are for $10,000.
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Community Initiative Grants are recommended in the following categories: - Investment in and support mental health services or public health services to assist Old Lyme residents (seven projects)
- Reinvestment in Old Lyme government services that were deemed essential during the pandemic (such as emergency services) to ensure future preparedness (11 projects)
- Investment in current and future infrastructure challenges such as clean water and sewer/waste treatment (two projects)
- Investment in town-wide broadband (internet) improvements and/or cell services (one project)
- Investment in early childhood care, and education (three projects)
- Investment in bringing visitors to our Old Lyme attractions, restaurants, shops, and accommodations (six projects)
- Investment in affordable housing to meet the needs of those working and living in Old Lyme (one project)
- Provision (direct and indirect) of financial assistance to Old Lyme families and households having difficulty recovering from pandemic losses (two projects)
In addition to the 10 recommendation categories above, the American Rescue Plan Committee has included in its recommendations:
• Reserving up to $20,000 to cover fees by an independent consultant retained to administer the Economic Recovery Grant applications (this expenditure was approved by the Town in its 3/21/22 Town Meeting)
• Reserving up to $20,000 in legal, outreach, and administrative costs associated with the survey and application, and granting processes.
Read the full details of all the proposed projects/beneficiaries to receive grants at this link.