POUGHKEEPSIE — Since receiving more than $57 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, Dutchess County has to date spent under half its allotted amount.
The program, begun in March of 2021, distributes funds for state and local governments to cover expenditures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including economic hardships that struck small businesses, households and nonprofits, and provided premium pay for essential workers. It also allowed for investments in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.
ARPA can also provide aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality. In September, additional flexibility was granted by the U.S. Treasury allowing use of the funds to respond to natural disasters, build critical infrastructure, and support community development.
The federal money must be obligated by the end of 2024, and spent by the end of 2026.
In a 3rd quarter update on the allocation of ARPA funding, County Comptroller Robin Lois reported earlier this month that as of Sept. 30, 2023, the County has spent $25,111,702, including $2,297,254 spent in the 3rd quarter of 2023.
According to Lois, the five largest expenditures from the third quarter were for:
(1) County Payroll and Benefits – $919,988;
(2) Architectural planning and design of the Youth Opportunity Center in Poughkeepsie at the site of the former YMCA – $304,943;
(3) Mechatronics lab equipment at Dutchess County Community College – $267,912;
(4) Infrastructure improvements to Hillcrest and Hudson River Lodging homeless shelters in Poughkeepsie– $197,339, and
(5) Playground equipment for Hackett Hill playground in the Town of Hyde Park – $170,000.
Under County Executive William F. X. O’Neil, the spending plan is organized into five major categories: youth; county parks; economy, community and county government.
Youth programs
More than $13 million was assigned to funding youth programs in three categories. One, the “Learn, Play, Create” grant program “to enhance and provide opportunities for children to learn, play and create while fulfilling emotional, financial, and social voids caused by the pandemic.” The program focused on libraries, not-for-profit youth sports and arts organizations with awards totaling $2,988,882.
A summer employment program for school-age children was budgeted at $100,000.
The third component aims to build a youth center in Poughkeepsie, of which $4.6 million “has been spent or encumbered for demolition of the old site, consulting fees and the planning and design for the new Dutchess County Youth Opportunity Center,” according to the 3rd quarter Comptroller’s report.
County parks
Nearly $8 million was assigned for investment in county parks under O’Neil’s June 30 updated plan, and as of the end of the 3rd quarter some $3 million has been expended or encumbered.
Economic investment
Another $8.2 million has been allocated for investments in the economy, such as jobs, infrastructure and public safety. As of Sept. 30, $5.8 million has been spend or encumbered. One large expenditure in this category was $3.7 million to develop, install and deploy a two-way radio system for emergency services.
Community spending
In terms of investing in the community, the ARPA plan calls for $20.9 million to be divided in six categories. By the end of the third quarter, $5.9 million has been spent or obligated. They include $3 million in awards to nonprofits that provide services and programs to residents most in need; $5.2 million to rehabilitate a wing in the old county jail to provide emergency housing for the homeless.
County government
An allocation of $6.8 million targeted rehiring the public sector, which included funding to replace 96 of the vacant county positions; and monies in the amount of $1.7 million for one-time payments to county employees who faced risk during the pandemic.
“The key outcomes for this funding include filling vacant positions, creating facilities and supporting infrastructure that has an impact on the community, and enabling the economy to come back stronger,” the Comptroller’s report states.
"They had this in mind from last year," girls varsity head coach Les Funk of Pine Plains said. Funk said the young team wanted the sectional title and "never gave up," until they won it Wednesday, March 5, at Mount Saint Mary College.Photo by Nathan Miller
Naveah Rennie, no 34 of Pine Plains, was the Bombers' dominant scorer, racking up 20 points by the end of the matchup against S.S. Seward Institute during the Section IX Class C finals at Mount Saint Mary College on Wednesday, March 5.Photo by Nathan Miller
Lent: Time to consider social gospel movement
We are entering the annual Christian season of Lent this week.With its 40 days of contemplation and “little Easter” Sundays, it is a time to remember the healing ministry and the sacrifice of Jesus.During this season, we are invited to think deeply about our role as agents of grace and love in our hurting world.
There is a long history of making sacrifices and commitments for Lent, modeling our discipleship and hopes for a more heavenly world. It is through this lens that I invite you to join us in considering what gifts and services the community needs that we can commit to bringing forth in the weeks leading up to Easter.While many lean into solitary introspection during Lent, it may be particularly advantageous to use our meditations and sacrifices for the greater good this year.
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, advised his followers centuries ago that “The gospel of Christ knows of no religion, but social; no holiness but social holiness. Faith working by love is the length and depth and breadth and height of Christian perfection.”These words are connected to the firm belief of Wesley that a Methodist was fundamentally one who loved God with all their heart, mind, strength, and soul, along with loving one’s neighbor as oneself.He believed that being in love with God naturally also required loving other people, as every person was a beloved soul coming from the same source of life that we are.
Consequently, Wesley stood against slavery long before it was a popular view, prioritized caring for those who were poor and imprisoned, and made a point to do good to as many as he could for as long as he was physically able.
Indeed, the Methodists are not the only Christians who believe such things.These thoughts are primary messages of the Christian faith.In more recent history, we can note that during the time of the Golden Age, at the end of the late 19th century, the Christians mobilized to counteract the abject poverty, child labor, dangerous working conditions, and lack of education of the time.Famous theologians such as Washington Gladden, Walter Rauschenbusch, and W.E.B. DuBois began the Social Gospel movement, enacting with new verve the passion of Christ that empowers the community toward building the Kingdom of God.As Christians, they believed in uplifting the downtrodden and creating a community where all had a chance to thrive.Child labor laws were enacted, better working conditions were secured, Sunday School helped provide education, settlement houses were created, and the Salvation Army was born.
The social gospel movement continued in another wave of reforms and empowerment through the Civil Rights era.Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his intellect, energy, and life to help secure the reforms that enabled persons of color to vote, go to non-segregated schools, and have the right to share public spaces without discrimination.Like Christ, he paid the ultimate price for his prophetic vision.However, his impact on our society was formidable, lasting far beyond his short lifetime.
As Christians, it is very clear what to do in times of hardship, crisis, or challenge.Throughout the centuries, our call has been to help heal the world, doing whatever we can to uplift and transform loneliness into community, reminding each one how precious they are and how important it is to unite for the sake of the whole.Individually, the challenges can be overwhelming, even too much to bear.Collectively, we can do all things through the One who strengthens us.As they say, “We have the receipts!” We can do it again.
This Lent, let us give up our pessimism and fear, replacing it with a commitment to community and hope.Yes, things can seem dreadful, but our souls are not served by allowing ourselves to descend into the dark.We are keepers of the light.Let us do all within our power to create brightness so that its warmth may strengthen all as we live into the Social Gospel movement for our time.Chin up, friends, we can do this.We simply must be willing to get serious about doing it together.
Rev. Dr. Anna Crews Camphouse is pastor of Canaan, Lakeville, Millerton, and Sharon United Methodist Churches
Lead Pastor of the Northwestern Hills Cooperative
Parish UMC