HERMANN — The first substantive steps have been taken by the Gasconade County Commission to allocate the $2.8 million it will receive in American Rescue Plan Act funding aimed at stimulating the local economy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Commission Thursday morning, meeting with a representative of Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), made several decisions regarding the distribution of the money, including setting a limit of $50,000 per application.

One key decision would place on hold any application from an entity that has received, or will receive, at least $45,000 in stimulus funds from the state government or federal government until after the second round of the $2.8-million appropriation has been received.

The county earlier this year received the first half of the total appropriation with the second half scheduled to be received next year. The idea behind the delay in considering applications from entities independently receiving the state or federal funds is to spread around the money being dispersed by the county.

“Our idea is to help some of the smaller businesses,” said Southern District Associate Commissioner Jerry Lairmore, R-Owensville, during last week’s session held at Owensville City Hall.

County administrators ironed out several details of the ARPA program with MRPC’s Kelly Sink, who oversees the administration of the funding for Gasconade and the other seven counties within the Meramec Region. MRPC recently has been nudging the county to begin moving forward with the post-pandemic recovery plan.

“I need to make sure we get your priorities and procedures outlined here,” Sink said, explaining that the regional planning agency needs to know “how you would like to invest your dollars.”

Indeed, most of the counties in the region have been moving cautiously on committing the use their ARPA funds, following the advice of Missouri county government advisors. One reason for the measured approach to seeking applications for funding is the ever-shifting landscape at the federal level regarding the use of the money.

County administrators remain keenly aware of the changes that took place on a regular basis regarding the use of the earlier CARES Act money, which began as a reimbursement of expenses by local government agencies in battling the coronavirus and quickly evolved into helping businesses and non-profit organizations recover revenue that was lost because of the pandemic’s effects.

Such a shift regarding ARPA funds seems to be taking shape at the federal level with legislation introduced that would make the use of this batch of money more flexible. “We figured they would probably do the same thing” they did with CARES Act money, noted Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel, R-Hermann.

As for helping local municipalities fund their projects during distribution of the first half of the money, Miskel told Sink, “My intent is let’s help the little guys first, like the Gasconades and the Blands of the world.”

Under this arrangement, Gasconade, Bland, Morrison and Rosebud could apply for funds from the initial round of money. Owensville and Hermann, both of which are scheduled to receive more than $400,000 each, could apply for a share of the county-allocated portion after the second half of the appropriation is received next year.

Another decision made at the outset by county administrators is to set aside $350,000 for county government improvements, although officials have yet to identify any specific projects.

Applications will be accepted from countywide businesses, not-for-profit organizations and taxing entities. Lairmore cautioned that even though a limit of $50,000 has been agreed on, that doesn’t mean an application will be awarded the full $50,000.

“All criteria will be reviewed and (applications) will be looked at on a case-by-case,” Lairmore said.

The Commission also pared the number of categories from five to three that will be available for applications. Funding requests will be accepted to:

1. Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, including harms to workers, households, small businesses, impacted industries and the public sector. However, regarding households, the Commission will not consider applications from individual families. Rather, it will consider funding requests from non-profit organizations — such as the Ministerial Alliance — working on behalf of families.

2. Replace lost public-sector revenue, using this money to provide services to the extent of the reduction in revenue resulting from the pandemic.

3. Invest in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure, making necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, support vital wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and to expand access to broadband internet.

Bland already has contacted the county about using some of the ARPA funds for its water project. Likewise, Public Water Supply District 1, which serves the Peaceful Valley subdivision, is a possible applicant for funds to help finance its wastewater upgrades.

Applications for a share of the ARPA money will be due by April 1, 2022. Sink said MRPC will advise applicants to list the total cost of the projects they are proposing, even though the county support might only provide a maximum of $50,000 of the total cost. Another key decision is that the county is not requiring a matching amount from the applicant in order to receive a share of the funding.

MRPC will produce a draft of the application procedures for Commission approval. After sign-off of the document, the regional planning agency will be placing advertising in local newspapers formally publicizing the availability of the ARPA money.