Important News: you can use funds from ARPA to cover the cost of our services
Recently we retained the services of a well known law firm in Wisconsin to determine whether ARPA state local fiscal recovery funds could be used for municipal website design and hosting. The lead attorney, Lee Turonie, has eight years of experience with the Wisconsin Towns Association (WTA). Lee understands local government and can navigate the requirements of ARPA. They have done comprehensive and thorough research and have determined that the municipal website design, hosting and email services that Town Web Design, LLC provides, can be paid for by ARPA funding.
1. Responding to the public health emergency or its negative economic impacts:Is the purchase of technical assistance by a local government intended to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and/or its economic impacts an eligible expenditure under ARPA?
YES
Technical assistance is the process of providing targeted support to an organization with a need or problem. Local governments are organizations; COVID-19 is a problem; increased Internet utility mitigates the spread of the problem and its ill effects for small businesses, nonprofits, households, and impacted industries. Town Web is offering to provide the technical assistance necessary for the increased Internet utility.
2. Providing Government Services:
Local governments may use funds for the provision of government services in general, however, in this case funds may be used only to the extent of the reduction in revenue experienced due to the Covid–19 public health emergency. Spending within this budget could be on virtually any local government services to include Town Web services, whether or not a local government already has such services.
> Do I have to return unused funds?
Yes, any unused funds will have to be returned to the Treasury.
> Can I pay for future hosting/maintenance/support services?
Yes, Town Web’s services can be paid through December 31st, 2026. Municipalities are choosing to lock-in fixed pricing with ARPA state local fiscal recovery funds and prepay for 3 years.
> What are the ARPA reporting requirements?The local government is recommended to keep any pertinent records and to adopt a specific resolution of support for the eligibility that contains the relevant facts, the analysis, and the determination of the local government. This purpose category will be subject to “enhanced” reporting requirements to verify eligibility. It is important to create a strong record.
For a copy of the full memorandum, please send us an email and we will provide the full document for you to share with your board.
*1 There are many different types of local governments and they must operate according to the laws of their particular type and state jurisdiction. Therefore, individual local governments should still consult with their municipal attorney regarding the proper implementation of ARPA state local fiscal recovery funds spending.
*2 All information provided herein is taken from the memo provided by Lee D. Turonie with Dempsey Law {07714893.DOCX}.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 includes stimulus money for all municipalities, regardless of size or population, including yours. Many larger municipalities took advantage of funding from the CARES Act of 2020 to invest in technology during the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. Town Web Design helped many of these to create and update their websites that serve as a “communication platform” to stay in touch with residents.
The Covid-19 public health emergency showed us how challenging it can be to live socially distanced lives. We’ve moved so many aspects of life online, including work, school and entertainment. Shouldn’t your municipality have a modern website to stay connected to residents? Everyone (or seemingly so) has a smartphone, a laptop or a tablet. The pandemic has shown just how much we rely on technology for our everyday living.
A municipal website is the best, easiest and most efficient way to communicate with your residents, especially now. But a Town Web website is more than just a website – it’s a communication platform. You can reach residents quickly with important information about their community and answer their questions 24 hours a day with the content you provide on your website.
Take advantage of the opportunity this stimulus money offers by investing in a municipal website to communicate with your residents and meet their needs. A new or upgraded site can set you up for success now and in the future, as the world changes. If you are interested in using ARPA state local fiscal recovery funds to pay for a new municipal website, send me an email at sales@townweb.com and I’ll send you information about ARPA from the law firm.
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