PORT ANGELES — Clallam County has allocated nearly a third of the $15.02 million in federal COVID-19 relief money it was awarded in May, commissioners heard last week.
Meanwhile, county officials have developed a process to help organizations affected by the pandemic apply for American Rescue Plan Act funds through a dedicated webpage at www.clallam.net/bocc/arpa.html.
“There’s obviously a huge temptation, both in terms of desire and need in the community, to get these funds turned around, but we also have quite a responsibility to try and do that thoughtfully, strategically and fairly,” Commissioner Mark Ozias said in last Monday’s work session.
Clallam County had allocated $4.56 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for needs related to the pandemic, which continues to rage on the North Olympic Peninsula and beyond.
The funds were committed to the following areas based on direction from the three commissioners:
• $2.5 million for local business and nonprofit support. The money will be funneled through the Clallam County Economic Development Council (EDC).
• $700,000 for food security support to local food banks.
• $500,000 for child care support through Clallam EDC.
• $360,000 for affordable housing and homelessness support.
• $350,000 for residential and commercial utility relief through Clallam County PUD.
• $150,000 for local water systems infrastructure.
An undetermined amount of ARPA funding will be used for behavioral health services and broadband infrastructure, according to an executive summary.
“I am happy to say that I think, by the end of August, we’ll be in a position to have $3.4 million, almost, of ARPA funds that are essentially in the process of being distributed, either through Clallam EDC and the PUD assistance programs,” county Chief Financial Officer Mark Lane told commissioners last Monday.
Last year, Clallam EDC helped the county distribute federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds to businesses and nonprofits that suffered financial losses from the pandemic.
Commissioners on Tuesday will consider approving an sub-recipient agreement with Clallam EDC for the distribution of ARPA funds.
Clallam County was awarded $15.02 million in ARPA funding in March, $7.5 million of which was received in May. The rest will be distributed by the county in May 2022.
Lane outlined a process for future uses of ARPA funds. He and Ozias directed would-be applicants to Clallam County’s ARPA webpage.
“I have to balance the sense of urgency with making sure that we have all of our ducks in a row,” Lane said.
“Obviously, these are federal dollars, and we have to make sure that we’ve gone through our proper due diligence to make sure that we’re spending those funds in a way that is clearly aligned with what the U.S. Treasury has indicated how these funds can be utilized.”
Ozias credited Lane and other staff for developing a standard process for ARPA allocations.
“The speed and the organization with which we are standing up this program is absolutely outstanding,” Ozias said.
“It is serving our community incredibly well.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
