Town of Stonington ARPA
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) delivered $350 billion for eligible state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to respond to the COVID-19 emergency and bring back jobs.
As part of our recommendation that municipalities dedicate at least 1% of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to arts & culture, along with our suggested guidance for potential uses that address priority needs and ideas to integrate into your existing plans and goals, the Cultural Coalition offered municipalities fund administration support.
The Town of Stonington allocated $52,000 municipal ARPA funds for arts & culture to be re-invested into the community through the Cultural Coalition.
Grant Administration & Management – Provides small arts and cultural based grants (up to $10,000) to Stonington’s arts & cultural businesses (for-profit and nonprofit) and individual artists.
ARPA Grants for Arts and Culture (2022 grant applications now closed)
Tentative Timeline for Stonington ARPA Grant for Arts & Culture (up to $10k)
4/29/22 – Information Session
5/2/22 – Grant Application Opens for Norwich, New London and Stonington
5/23/22 – Grant Application Closes
5/24/22 – Internal Grant Panel Review Begins
Early June – Recommended Grant Awards are Announced
June 2023 – Grant Reports Due
A total of 46,800 will be available with max. grant awards of $10,000.
Grant period is June 1 to December 31, 2022.
Applicants may request up to $10,000 in funding. Events, activities, and programs must take place in the Town of Stonington and grant funds must be fully expended during the grant period. Applicants must be located in the Town of Stonington, including the Borough as long as applicant has not already received a direct ARPA grant from the Town or Borough.
Additional Information – Funds must be used to respond to the negative impacts of Covid-19. No match is required. One application per business/organization/artist is allowed. Grant awards will be all or nothing. No partial grants will be awarded.
Who is Eligible? Creative businesses (see Creative Economy Businesses list for eligible business types), individual artists, and non-profit organizations located in and have a history of serving the Town of Stonington community and grant management are eligible for this grant program. Non-arts & cultural businesses or non-profit organizations that have a proposal for a public art project or initiative are eligible. Town of Stonington municipal agencies and departments are not eligible for this funding. Applicants with local, State, or Federal tax delinquencies, other delinquent fees, or open regulatory violations will not be considered. Since this funding is related to COVID recovery, businesses must have been established before October 2021. Applicants with a fiscal sponsor are not eligible.
Relevant News Articles:
Proposed spending plan for Stonington’s ARPA funds heads to public hearing, Westerly Sun, Sept 13, 2021
Stonington finance board finalizes plan to spend $5.2 million in COVID relief funds, The Day, Sept 16, 2021