Greene County opens small-business applications for ARPA funds

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Greene County tomorrow is opening up the application process for local small businesses to apply for American Rescue Plan Act funds.

County Commissioner John Russell and Lyle Foster, the county's ARPA grant administrator, yesterday held a meeting with local organizations to update the community about the process.

The Greene County Commission has allocated roughly $8 million of its $56.9 million in federal ARPA funds for small businesses, according to a news release. The commission is planning four rounds of funding over the next two years with roughly $2 million available in each cycle.

The first round is open to small businesses in Greene County for six weeks, through May 31. County officials have set up an online PDF for business owners to learn more about the process.

The PDF indicates that allowable uses for ARPA funding outlined by the U.S. Department of the Treasury are for revenue loss mitigation and for facilities, specifically involving COVID-19 prevention or mitigation tactics. Additionally, the business must have operated within Greene County as of March 1, 2020.

County officials indicated the nonprofit applications for ARPA funds are still being developed and would debut in the near future, according to the release.

Greene County Public Information Officer Robert Jehle said the commission has allocated roughly $8 million for small businesses and $12 million for nonprofits. Another $20.4 million is allocated for collaboration projects, with $10.2 million for countywide projects, he said, noting the remainder is being held in reserves.