Darien RTM Approves American Rescue Plan Act Projects
Infrastructure, mental health needs, and health-related items topped the list of projects funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.
More than $6.4 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds have officially been approved for projects in Darien. The Representative Town Meeting gave final approval for the projects this week, after the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance approved the plans.
The ARPA projects include:
- $220,000 for health-related costs including restocking many pandemic items, such as gloves, PPE, masks, and tests, as well as some reimbursement for vaccine clinics.
- $1 million to replace pipe lining in town sewers
- $1 million to improve drainage around the Grove Street–Tilly Pond area
- $1.5 million to upgrade storm drainage piping
- $253,000 for bridge repairs
- $250,000 for mental health support
- $100,000 for food insecurity support
- $100,000 to go to nonprofits in town
- $1.8 million for “other” projects around town including playground updates, website improvements, picnic tables, upgrades to meeting facilities in order to allow for hybrid participation, and website upgrades.
RTM Budget and Finance Chair Jack Davis praised the efforts to support mental health and COVID-19 recovery efforts which are “very much in the spirit of the act” as well as the town’s investments in infrastructure.
“They’re not sexy—nobody is putting a bumper sticker on their car saying, ‘I support the sewers,’ but these projects need to get done,” he said.
