At its Oct. 11 meeting, the Carrboro Town Council revised and adopted the Grant Project Ordinance for allocated funds received from the American Rescue Plan Act’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
The Town of Carrboro received a grant from the federal act totaling nearly $7 million to allocate funds that alleviate negative economic impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The grant is placing funds in a variety of projects in areas including public works, economic development and public safety.
Of the ARPA funding received, 38 percent, or more than $2.5 million, will be used for housing and community services. This includes $1 million for the construction of more affordable housing units.
Carrboro has already provided funding for an affordable housing development on Merritt Mill Road. The construction of the complex, called Perry Place, is scheduled to be completed by January 2023.
The ordinance also provides $75,000 for recommendations by the Town's Racial Equity Commission.
The Town will be putting an additional $500,000 each into emergency housing assistance and housing preservation and weatherization.
“This is one of those great opportunities where we’re doing climate action and affordability in our town,” Town Council member Sammy Slade said.
The additional funding from ARPA will allow for additional preservation and weatherization in the homes of people who earn enough to be above 200 percent of the poverty line, but still below Carrboro’s average median income, Dan Sargent, executive director of Rebuilding Together of the Triangle, said.
