(12/10) The Economic Development Commission finished reviewing nonprofit applicants for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. ARPA was passed in 2021 as a federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the losses experienced by many small businesses and nonprofit organizations.
According to Commissioner Michael Bailey, Walkersville received a total of five million dollars in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Of that amount, four million dollars has been allocated toward town infrastructure and about one million dollars is currently allocated toward nonprofit and business relief.
While four nonprofit applicants were reviewed in October, only the Walkersville Fire Company was granted relief funding at that time. The commission has now reassessed the remaining three organizations, which include the Walkersville Volunteer Rescue Company, the Walkersville High School Music Boosters, and the Glade Elementary PTA.
While the Rescue Company did not initially provide information about additional relief funding, the organization has since indicated that it applied for $34,003 in outside grants and received $13,324. Thus, the Rescue Company is requesting an amount of funding approximate to the difference, which is $20,749. The organization cites a loss of income from their bingo fundraiser, additional spending on their awards banquet including food and drink, and a desire to purchase a new ambulance for the company. As a result, the commission ruled that they would grant the $20,749 difference to the Rescue Co. through ARPA funds.
The WHS Music Boosters were missing several key items in October to obtain relief funding; however, they have since provided the requested documents. Asked to demonstrate greater loss, the Boosters presented the commission with the results of their Breakfast with Santa fundraiser, which raised less than $100 compared to an expected $12,500 due to the pandemic. This left the Boosters’ deficit at approximately $12,402, motivating the EDC to grant the Boosters their request of $10,000 in relief.
The final undecided application belonged to the Glade Elementary PTA, which ran into issues with eligibility due to its status as a subsidiary. While the EDC chose not to provide relief funds to the Glade Elementary PTA, which had hoped to use them for their Blessings in a Backpack program, the commission did address student needs in alternate ways. The Blessings in a Backpack program had also sought support to ensure that students who were eligible for the program but not receiving meals were fed, leading to a decision by the town council to approve a one time stop gap allocation of $9,750 to the cause.
Additionally, the council approved the use of town funds to pay off student lunch debt at Walkersville Middle and High Schools. Despite positive intentions, however, both commissioners and town residents have raised concern over the decision. Early in November, Commissioner Tom Gilbert expressed the potential harmful precedent set by the decision, as students who owe lunch debt are not the same as those who qualify for free meals. Resident Ann Moldenhauer echoed this concern and suggested such decisions involve a waiting period rather than being made immediately.
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