Referred to:  The American Rescue Plan Act Special Committee (Chairman Criswell and Legislators Corcoran, Levine, Lopez, and Sperry), The Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture Committee (Chairman Cahill and Legislators Corcoran, Criswell, Hewitt, Litts, Maloney and Sperry), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Cahill, Fabiano, Ronk, and Walter)

Chairman of the ARPA Special Committee, Peter J. Criswell, and Deputy Chair Thomas Corcoran, Jr. offer the following:

WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted at the request of the County Executive on behalf of the Department of Economic Development; and

WHEREAS, commercial cores and anchor institutions through Ulster County continue to experience the adverse economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, the Boost for Main Streets program will leverage past work done by the Ulster County Planning Department and New York Main Streets Program; and

WHEREAS, the Boost for Main Streets program will invest in “Commercial Cores” to increase economic vitality and boost community quality of life, especially in economically-disadvantaged areas and areas disproportionately impacted by the pandemic; and

WHEREAS, the Boost for Main Streets program will build upon the recommendations of the Ulster 2040 Working Group Final Report entitled ‘Building a People Centered Economy’, published in September 2020 with an economic development mission of seeking, “equitable gains in opportunity and prosperity for all residents” (See Ulster 2040 Working Group Final Report, page 11); and

WHEREAS, “capital investments, such as rehabilitation of commercial properties, storefront improvements, and façade improvements[,]” are enumerated eligible uses of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) – State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), when provided to disproportionately impacted small businesses and/or small businesses in disproportionately impacted business districts.  (See U.S. Treasury, Final Rule, 31 CFR Part 35, RIN 1505-AC77, page 151); and

WHEREAS, the evaluation committee for the Boost for Main Street program applications shall consist of representation of the Ulster County Executive’s office to be appointed by the County Executive, and no fewer than two (2) members of the Ulster County Legislature to be appointed by the Chair of the Legislature; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, in order to implement the Boost for Main Streets Program, funding in the amount of $2,000,000.00 in ARPA funds be allocated to support a Boost for Main Streets Program; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the 2022 Ulster County Operating Budget is hereby amended as follows:

                                                            INCREASE                                       AMOUNT

AA.1310.1079-4300.4505             Other Fees                                         $2,000,000.00

(App. #)

AA.1310.1079-3400.4089            Federal Aid, ARPA                          $2,000,000.00  

(Rev.#),                                                                                                         

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                    NOES:        

Passed Committee: American Rescue Plan Act on _______________.

Passed Committee: Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture on _______________.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on _______________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

$2,000,000.00 – 2022 COUNTY APPROPRIATIONS

$2,000,000.00 – 2022 FEDERAL REVENUE DOLLARS