Officials discuss uses of federal funding

Jay County needs a plan for how to spend incoming American Rescue Plan funds.

County officials met Thursday to continue discussion about that plan.

Affordable housing and daycare were two options discussed by Jay County Council and Jay County Commissioners during a brainstorming meeting regarding what to do with money the county will receive from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Council and commissioners also heard of a new state program that will provide up to $1 million in matching funds for 12 communities toward American Rescue Plan related projects.

Jay County will be receiving approximately $3.9 million in additional coronavirus relief funds from the federal government to be used toward initiatives involving infrastructure, regional collaboration, public facilities, schools, economic development and individual and business assistance.

Commissioner Chad Aker brought up a request from the highway department to allot $40,000 of American Rescue Plan dollars toward running fiber optic internet to the highway barn and Jay County Country Living (formerly Jay County Retirement Center) at the intersection of county roads 100 East and 200 North. Council member Faron Parr then wondered aloud if installing fiber optic internet infrastructure in the area could be the first step in making those areas more suitable for affordable housing development.

County auditor Anna Culy noted the county could sell the land to a housing developer if one is interested in such a project.

Travis Richards, executive director of Jay County Development Corporation, also noted every housing developer is different, with some asking for more assistance from government entities and others not. Many developers also don’t want to come into the community unless they can build at least 20 homes, he added.

Officials also discussed removing deteriorated buildings, with Houchins suggesting the county restore old homes in the community. Once finished, it could sell each property and repeat the process with another house, she added.

Houchins also brought up daycare as a community need. Aker suggested partnering with schools and looking at options for what to do with vacant buildings such as Westlawn Elementary School. He mentioned teachers and other local individuals in need of daycare.

Richards mentioned there are some employers in other areas who run their own daycares. There are also other counties with third-party companies for that business.

Council Member Ted Champ noted child care can be expensive. Commissioner Brian McGalliard asked how many daycares would be stationed around Jay County, with others saying they were unsure as of yet.

Other potential uses of the funding discussed Thursday include:

•Expanding broadband internet to underserved areas. Houchins, who lives near Bryant, noted there is an issue in her neighborhood because there are trees blocking wireless internet signals. In three to five years, there may be technology available to help combat that issue, Richards said. Parr urged the group to consider other options because installing broadband is expensive and, depending on the area, may only help a small number of local residents.

•Contributing funds to local businesses. “We have businesses that were hurt big time because of COVID, and they could use some help because it’s coming back,” Champ said.

•Investing in upgrades to the radio system for Jay Emergency Medical Service and local law enforcement. Aker shared a rough estimate of about $1 million total for the upgrades, which doesn’t include contributions from the cities of Portland or Dunkirk.

•Installing a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system at Jay County Jail. (Houchins said council member Ray Newton, who was not present at the meeting Thursday, requested she add it to the list.)

•Beefing up cybersecurity at places such as Jay County Sheriff’s Office and Jay County Courthouse.

Also Thursday, Richards informed officials about the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP), a new initiative offered through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

HELP’s purpose is help counties, cities or towns plan how to use American Rescue Plan funds, he explained. It will also provide a matching grant of up to $1 million dollars.

About 12 communities –– four from each of the four designated cohorts in the state –– will be selected through an application-based process. It will be a 52-week program divided into four stages. Richards said he’ll learn more about HELP on Wednesday during a state webinar.

Council and commissioners agreed to review their options with consulting firm Baker Tilly. Houchins reminded the group it will be a process, and deciding on what to do with the money and following through with it will take time.

Richards agreed. The county will be receiving nearly $4 million over the course of a few years, he added, and it will have to make decisions on how to spend it.

“I hope this is the biggest task you guys ever face,” Richards said.