By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — Usually, when ‘free’ money is offered, people are figuring out how to spend it.

That is how many municipalities have been responding to the funding that is part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). 

Let’s find ways to spend it, local government officials have been saying. 

Take a wait and see approach has been Naples Town Manager John Hawley’s tactic.

First off, the categories of how the money could be spent didn’t seem to apply to Naples’ needs. So, Hawley wanted to see if the federal government approved of the ways other towns were planning to spend the funds. 

Secondly, there is no pressing deadline. 

Municipalities have two years to determine how to spend the allotted money, and until 2026 to have doled out the funding.  

The Town of Naples would receive $400,000 over the course of two years, Hawley said. 

During the Naples Board of Selectmen meeting on Monday night, Hawley said the categories have expanded with the federal government’s most recent description of how funds can be spent. 

“A couple weeks ago, the feds came out with the final rules on what the funds could be spent on. Reading through them, I have discovered that under ‘replacing lost sector revenue,’ up to $10 million in aggregate, not to exceed the award amount can be used …”

“If the $10 million is a standard allowance, what they are suggesting is the funds that we get, the funds could be used on any services,” Hawley said, listing some of the specific ones. “Administrative services, provision of fire police, including the purchase of apparatus and police vehicles.”

He told the board that he still has to run his interpretation by the town attorney. 

“Not 100 percent sure just yet, this will open the doors for us to spend our $400,000 on anything we need,” he said. “The relaxing of the rules really sounds like they have opened this up to a broader range of opportunities.” 

Selectman Colin Brackett asked if there is an expiration date.

“We have to determine how to spend the funds by 2024, and we have to be paying out, spending it by 2026,” Hawley said.

Earlier, during the discussion, Board Chairman Jim Grattelo mentioned that Auburn’s City Council had talked about using the funds to provide incentives for people to move into the city, and own housing that is lived in year round.  

“The City of Auburn is giving out grants,” he said. “If city employees move there and buy a house, they get a $20,000 grant to stay there for five years.”