Bucks County was recently represented at the White House during a special event entitled “Communities in Action: Building a Better Pennsylvania.” The purpose was to highlight the impact of the American Rescue Plan Act — which delivered financial relief to individuals and businesses nationwide — on the state.
On hand in Washington, D.C. to represent Bucks County was Commissioner Chair Bob Harvie, who was excited about the opportunity.
“I am honored to be invited to the White House to discuss the ways the Biden-Harris administration has helped Bucks Countians and people all across Pennsylvania, through their unprecedented investments in infrastructure, the environment and economic recovery,” said Harvie.
Bucks County as a whole has received over $122 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds, which, said Harvie, have given small businesses a boost, kept families in their homes, launched critical infrastructure projects and provided aid to the county’s most vulnerable through human service grants.
Harvie went on to outline the specifics of Bucks County’s ARPA funds.
The Bucks County Rental Assistance Program received $14.8 million. Assistance was distributed to more than 2,600 households using federal funds to help residents pay rent and utilities and avoid eviction.
Some $4.8 million in grants was provided to 785 businesses across the county that were struggling with the economic fallout of the pandemic and shutdowns.
Another $5 million in human service grants bolstered elements of the mental health system and enhanced community services. Examples include $390,000 to No Longer Bound to build educational programming at the Martha Miller Education Center in Bristol Township, with a focus on developing interpersonal skills and healing from trauma and adversity; and $197,000 to Bucks County Opportunity Council’s food pantry, which aims to meet rising demand by increasing output by 20 percent over two years.
The Bucks United Flood Recovery Program received $1.5 million to help residents affected by summer 2021 flooding in Croydon (non-Ida-related) with renovation and mold remediation.
The Emergency Operations Center received $300,000 for tech upgrades to improve response to future disasters, pandemics and other incidents.
The Co-responders Program received $240,000 to expand the initiative that pairs police and social workers together into additional Lower Bucks communities after the success of the pilot in Bensalem.
Finally, the Bucks County Community College Veterans Program received $200,000.
Also present at the event was P.J. O’Brien, impact director for financial stability at United Way of Bucks County, who shared how community collaborations and federal funding helped its Bucks United Flood Recovery Program succeed. United Way launched the program in response to the July 2021 floods that devastated low- and moderate-income homeowners in Lower Bucks County. ARPA and private funds helped rebuild damaged homes.
In coordination with the County of Bucks, Habitat for Humanity Bucks County and The Elevated Studio, United Way has completed 124 repair and remediation programs through BUFR. Work is still underway to ensure that every flood survivor’s home is safe, secure and sanitary.
“Building impactful collaborations is central to all we do,” said Marissa Christie, president and CEO, United Way of Bucks County. “It is the key to our success. Collaborations mean we can help people more efficiently. So many of our vulnerable neighbors would still be struggling if we didn’t come together for programs like BUFR. Public-private partnerships are truly one of the most effective ways to make a difference in Bucks County.”
A possible future allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds is the complete overhaul of the Lower Bucks Government Services Center, located in Levittown. Planning for the project is well underway, with the county already working with an architect chosen by the Board of Commissioners. The planned facility would increase access to county government services for residents in some of Bucks’ most densely-populated areas, where in-person services have long been limited.
“When the new Lower Bucks Government Service Center opens, we’ll be able to provide expanded services to residents more efficiently and conveniently.”
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
