Harris answers ARPA questions at Marietta City Council Finance Committee meeting

Marietta City Council’s Finance Committee enlisted the help of Bricker attorney Jeff Harris for a discussion about its Marietta Main Street Proposal, as reported by the Marietta Times. Harris explained that American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds can be used for enhancements made to help prevent or mitigate the spread of COVID-19. He stated that he did not see how project design fees, for example, would be considered COVID-related, but that wayfinding signage, a local art grant for the Marietta mural work, a grant program for projects involving lead abatement and HVAC upgrades, and a small business relief fund could all be ARPA funds-eligible.

According to Harris, “If any of the building improvement-related requests for proposal or qualifications asked for addressing impacts from the pandemic or to improve buildings for COVID mitigation — think HVAC upgrades or build-out for space enhancements for social distancing — then those elements of that planning and design fee element, could be ARPA-eligible, but only those components. Not the entirety of the $250,000 of design fees.”