(KNSI) — Stearns County approved spending $510,000 of its American Rescue Plan Act funds to support three projects.
On Tuesday, the board approved $200,000 for the Department of Human Services to provide emergency assistance to families with rent and utility needs. Officials say inflation has exhausted the fund, and applications are still waiting to be processed with more than three months left.
The Central Minnesota Mental Health Center will get $160,000 to add a staff member until December 31st, 2024.
The Soil and Water Conservation District will get $150,000 to help protect St. Cloud’s drinking water. The projects will include manure storage facilities in the Mississippi River – Sartell watershed. Six projects need funding, and officials hope this will catalyze them.
The county has spent around $25 million of the more than $31 million it received in ARPA funding. The most significant chunk, $16 million, is being spent on broadband improvements. Around $5.4 has been spent on highway maintenance projects.
The county has until the end of 2024 to spend the remaining money.
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