American Rescue Plan Task Force

Task Force Members

The Task FORCE MEETS THE 2nd MONDAY OF THE MONTH
CITY HALL WEST MEETING ROOM 1 4:00 PM - AGENDAS

NameOrganization /Affiliation
Caggiano, Jeff
Mayor
D'Agostino, KatieBristol Chamber of Commerce
Dumas, MikeBoard of Public Works
Goldwasser, MickeyEconomic & Community Development
Heiser, GlennCapital & Strategic Planning Committee
Leone, JohnCitizen
Maikowski, DavidBoard of Finance
O'Brien TomCitizen
Peterson, MarkCitizen
Preleski, DaveCitizen
Sadecki, SusanMain Street Community Foundation
Schmelder, HowardEconomic & Community Development
Smith, JohnCitizen
Urgo, MorganCitizen

American Rescue Plan Act
City of Bristol, Connecticut

American Rescue Plan Fact Sheet

American Rescue Plan Task Force 
Guiding Principles & Priorities
Approved December 13, 2021

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the City of Bristol to meet pandemic response need and rebuild a stronger and more equitable community. ARPA is the sixth federal COVID-19 relief bill passed in the last year and is by far the largest infusion of resources to the State of Connecticut. It is estimated that more than $6 billion will come to the state through multiple ARPA grant programs. The City of Bristol will receive approximately $28 million in ARPA funding over the next five years. A 15-member ARPA Task Force, comprised of appointed members from the community, has been formed to help determine how these funds will be distributed to benefit the Bristol community. The Task Force has selected UHY Advisors as the consultant to assist with eligibility review, reporting, and project monitoring process. Three subcommittees were formed to focus on the following priority areas: Nonprofit, Business Recovery and City Use.

The following Guiding Principles will provide the framework for the most effective deployment of these resources:

•    We acknowledge that ARPA funds are one-time monies.

•    We will seek opportunities to make lasting change in physical and social infrastructure.

•    Priority consideration will be given to projects and activities that promote fiscal and environmental sustainability.

•    To the extent possible, we will leverage outside funding and avoid duplication with other relief programs.

•    We will limit operational investments without identified sustainable funding sources.

•    We will fund projects and activities to achieve long-lasting benefits and results.

•    We will address the impact of the pandemic on disproportionately impacted low-income families, communities of color and those socially vulnerable through investment in qualified census tract neighborhoods. 

•    We will demonstrate compliance and transparency through regular reporting to the public.


Related documents

ARPA Award Recipients


UHY PRESENTATIONS

January 13 Presentation to Subrecipients 

November 16 Draw Down Webinar

Initial Presentation to Subrecipients



ROWLEY SPRING & STAMPING USES FUNDING FROM THE CITY TO BROADEN ITS OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Rowley Spring & Stamping Corp., a Bristol manufacturer that produces springs and stamping products used in hundreds of applications with customers all over the world, was awarded an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant from the City of Bristol. Rowley Spring & Stamping Corp. was established in 1954 and currently employs 110 people at its facility located at 210 Redstone Hill Road.

Rowley was one of several Bristol business recipients of ARPA funding designed to help organizations recover from the pandemic. Rowley’s grant award in the amount of $360,000 was used to fund capital projects at their facility to improve infrastructure, inspection capabilities, tooling technologies, and operational capacity. These investments have helped to grow their business and open new jobs for new employees – an additional five employees have been hired as a result of this funding – along with providing stability for its existing staff. The addition of the new tooling equipment with the purchase of a new Wire EDM machine and a new Machining Center have provided in-house capabilities to machine blocks and tool features. 

“Rowley takes great pride in being a member of the Bristol community, and the community's unwavering support for Rowley and the manufacturing industry as a whole has had a transformative impact,” stated John Dellalana, President and CEO of Rowley Spring & Stamping Corp. “Through these partnerships, the area has experienced significant economic growth, generated good-paying jobs, and become a leading supplier of springs and stampings in the nation.”

The City of Bristol will receive approximately $28 million in ARPA dollars over the next five years. A 15-member ARPA Task Force, comprised of appointed members from the community, was formed to help determine how these funds will be distributed to benefit the Bristol community.

In March 2022, a portion of the initial $28 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation was recommended for approval by the ARPA Task Force. Projects were allocated to assist Bristol businesses and nonprofit organizations with eligible project costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, eligible City projects, including infrastructure upgrades, City Hall HVAC improvements, park upgrades and more were also recommended.

“Rowley Spring & Stamping is one of the few businesses that was awarded ARPA funding through the City’s competitive grant process. This grant is important to the City’s economic development as it allows Rowley to grow its business and hire additional employees,” stated Mayor Jeffrey Caggiano.

SHEPARD MEADOWS EQUESTRIAN CENTER USES ARPA FUNDS TO TRANSFORM EQUINE-ASSISTED SERVICES WITH A NEW LEARNING CENTER


 BRISTOL, CT – Shepard Meadows Equestrian Center, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides equine-assisted services located on a 26-acre farm on Hill Street in Bristol, was awarded an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant from the City of Bristol to help build an indoor learning center. Shepard Meadows was founded in 2004 and incorporated as a nonprofit the following year. Since its inception, Shepard Meadows has provided programs to promote personal wellness through horse therapy. They began with limited programs on a semester basis in the spring, summer, and fall and were then able to add additional winter unmounted horsemanship programs and a five-day summer equine experience in recent years. Their mission is to support the growth and well-being of all individuals, including those with special needs, veterans, youth, and adults.

 

Shepard Meadows’ grant award in the amount of $250,000 was used to fund the building of a learning center with a private therapy room which will enable them to meet community demand for services safely and professionally. Shepard Meadows was one of several nonprofit organizations to receive ARPA funding through the City of Bristol to support the public health and economic impacts of the pandemic. This funding will enable them to meet the demand for additional programs and services which is transformative in responding to and mitigating the impact of pandemic-related social-emotional and mental health issues alongside services that address learning loss in school-age children. These programs are unique and innovative and are based on experiential learning incorporating nature and equines.

 

“Over the past several years our programs have grown in response to community needs, with over 2,000 sessions last year. We are small and we are flexible; we can create programs easily and design them to meet individual or small group needs, but our facility limited us. This project allows us to continue to grow and welcome members of our community to the farm. We offer a unique healing environment and in partnership with our therapy horses, we change lives,” stated Shelly Whitlock-Pope, Ed.D., Executive Director of Shepard Meadows Equestrian Center, Inc. “The new barn and learning center is absolutely beautiful and we look forward to sharing it with our community. There are no words to express how grateful we are to the City of Bristol for helping us with this project.”

 

The City of Bristol received approximately $28 million in ARPA dollars. A 15-member ARPA Task Force, comprised of appointed members from the community, was formed to help determine how these funds will be distributed to benefit the Bristol community.

 

“The City of Bristol utilized an innovative process to allow businesses and nonprofits to put forth transformative projects in vying for the City’s allocation of ARPA funding. Shepard Meadows new learning center on their property will allow them to meet the demand for equine-assisted services which will have a transformational impact for many individuals in the Bristol community,” stated Mayor Jeffrey Caggiano.

 

In addition to providing equine-assisted services, Shepard Meadows is open to the community to hold events, corporate/business meetings, and gatherings in the newly constructed learning center. If organizations are interested in combining the nature-field tranquil environment of our farm with an equine experience to promote team building, problem-solving, increase communication skills or personal awareness and/or growth, we have the talented and certified staff to lead your group. 

 


Mayor Caggiano, City staff, Shepard Meadows staff and Board of Directors members were given a tour of the newly constructed learning center funded with an ARPA grant from the City of Bristol.

From left to right back row: Liz Lefrancois, Board Member; Dr. Shelly Whitlock-Pope, Executive Director of Shepard Meadows Equestrian Center; Larry Gonzalez, President of the Board; Sean Dunn, Chair City of Bristol Energy Commission; Mayor Jeffrey Caggiano; Roger Rousseau, City of Bristol Purchasing Agent. Front Row: Justin Malley, Executive Director Economic and Community Development Department; Diane Waldron, City of Bristol Comptroller; and Emily Eschner, Program Director of Shepard Meadows.

 

 From left to right: Mayor Caggiano; Diane Waldron, City of Bristol Comptroller; Roger Rousseau, City of Bristol Purchasing Agent; Justin Malley, Executive Director Economic and Community Development; and Shelly Whitlock-Pope, Executive Director of Shepard Meadows Equestrian Center, Inc. pose in front of the entrance to the new learning center funded with an ARPA grant.