Recovery and Investment for a Stronger Economy

American Rescue Plan Act

ARPA Overview

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) into law. The $1.9 trillion Fiscal Recovery Funds package is intended to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, including public health and economic impacts. Of the entire $1.9 trillion bill, $350 billion was allocated to State and Local governments to enable them to address strategic economic and infrastructure investments and address governmental budget shortfalls. Cherry Hill Township has received a total of $11.36 million to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency and its economic impacts.

Mission/Guiding Principles

The mission of Cherry Hill Township, through its RISE program, is to provide residents, organizations, and community stakeholders with the resources and infrastructure necessary to recover, rebuild, and reinvest in our shared economic future in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This goal is underpinned by a foundational commitment to both equity and inclusive prosperity. This mission will begin by investing in aging and critical wastewater and stormwater infrastructure that serves all residents of Cherry Hill Township.  Investments will also be made in the Township’s existing small businesses, non-profits, and governmental agencies that continue to support the residents of Cherry Hill by providing access to a diverse collection of social and economic programs, but have been negatively impacted by the pandemic, impeding their ability to keep operations running. This mission statement is accompanied by six (6) guiding principles:

1. Recovery: Use funds to guide the community, small businesses, nonprofits, and local government out of the economic downturn and onto a path of financial recovery.
2. Response: Enhance community health response programs and initiatives.
3. Alignment: Integrate ARPA Funds with long-term financial strategies and comprehensive economic development planning.  
4. Sustainability: Avoid one-time items and programs that incur unsustainable operational, maintenance, or other long-term legacy costs.
5. Leverage: Evaluate large water/wastewater infrastructure needs for a safer, healthier community.
6. Transparency: Accountability, communication, and collaboration.

Cherry Hill RISE Allocation Plan

The Township’s RISE allocation plan was developed according to the Township’s mission statement and includes funding allocations to four (4) primary categories:

• Social Services – Funding for programs and projects designed to support the most vulnerable or most impacted by the Pandemic.
• Local Economy and Non-Profit Recovery – Grant funding availability to support small business, non-profits, and other impacted industries and entities throughout the Township.
• Infrastructure and Capital Investments – Funding to support critical wastewater and stormwater projects throughout the community.
• Mitigation and Prevention – Funding to support projects and expenditures designed to help mitigate and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

For more information on the allocation, please click here for access to the community presentation given on October 11^th, 2022, summarizing the RISE allocation plan. 

Infrastructure and Capital Investment Projects

The Township has identified eight (8) critical infrastructure and capital investment programs to be funded through its RISE program.  These projects include the following wastewater and stormwater projects that serve the broader Township community and are in need of critical repairs, as well as affordable housing and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) purchases. 

1. Community Center HVAC Project
2. Erlton Pump Station Elimination Project
3. Wexford and Fox Hollow Emergency Pump Installation
4. Kingston Box Culvert
5. Point of Woods and Cherry Valley Pump Station Grinder Pumps
6. 3 Oaks, Brandywoods, Brace Road, Surrey Place and Woodcrest Emergency Pump Installations
7. Affordable Housing 
8. Personal Protective Equipment Purchases

For more information regarding each capital project, please click here.

Community Grant Programs Available 

Cherry Hill Township is making grant funding available to the community in two (2) funding rounds. The first round of funding will be made available as negative economic recovery grants through direct beneficiary awards for eligible non-profits, small and veteran owned businesses, hotels and other impacted entities operating within the Township. These grants are intended to help support these organizations that have faced economic hardship resulting from or exacerbated by the COVID-19 public health emergency.  The grants will assist them in recovering from these impacts, so they may continue to effectively and efficiently provide ongoing services to the Cherry Hill community. 

Depending on the amount of grants awarded during the first round of funding (Recovery), a second round of funding (Reinvestment)   may become available as subrecipient grants to community organizations, non-profits, and health service providers to develop community support programs to help combat the impacts caused by the pandemic. In general, these subrecipient awards will be provided to those eligible organizations that can (1) identify a COVID-19 public health or economic impact on an individual or class (i.e., a group) and (2) design a program that responds to that impact. Responses or programs should be related and reasonably proportional to the harm identified and reasonably designed to benefit those impacted.

For more information regarding the RECOVERY programs, guidelines, and requirements, please click here.

For more information regarding the 2023 REINVESTMENT programs, guidelines, and requirements, please click here. 

Community Grant Timelines

The Timeline for the Recovery Grant Funding opportunity is as follows:

• Applications Open – October 31, 2022
• Applications Close – January 31, 2023 EXTENDED TO FEBRUARY 28, 2023
• Application Review Period – November 2022 – February 2023
• Awards made – March 2023

The Timeline for the Reinvestment Grant Funding opportunity at this time is TBD. Additional information will be provided at a later date.