Sherburne County to Get Nearly $19 Million in Funding From the American Rescue Plan Act

(KNSI) – Sherburne County is in line to get roughly $19 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, passed by Congress in March to help with the public health and economic fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Sherburne County Board of Commissioners has made no decisions regarding how that money is spent but recently received guidance about where it could be invested.

One way is to boost broadband internet infrastructure and to increase access to high-speed internet for county residents.

A survey has gone out to people and businesses in Sherburne County to see how they feel about the current state of broadband internet access, measure the broadband speeds that residents and businesses receive, and collect feedback from residents and business owners about what they would like to see in the future. The deadline to return the surveys is May 31st.

County Board Chair Raeanne Danielowski says, “We want to assure that county residents and businesses are receiving the best possible broadband service.”

A workshop session for the board regarding broadband internet is coming up on June 15th.

Other uses of the money could include more pay for essential workers, COVID-19 mitigation efforts like glass dividers at county service counters, and addressing economic impacts due to COVID-19 like business relief grants, financial assistance to workers and families. Commissioners are also tossing around the idea of investing in the county’s stormwater and wastewater infrastructure and access to clean drinking water.

Sherburne County will get half of its allocated money this year and the other half next year.

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