Infrastructure in Cumberland County
By Albert B. Kelly
One of the things that I believe is unique to Cumberland County and its communities as compared to the other counties around the state is our ability and willingness to work together on any number of projects and initiatives. Much of this comes from our size, we’re simply not that big in terms of population, some of is a result of our having less resources than other jurisdictions, and some of it grows out of our unique mix of rural and semi-urban communities. It’s all out of necessity.
Regardless of why, Cumberland County and its communities can punch above its weight when the right mix of projects and resources presents itself. I often think back to the joint effort that resulted in the Cumberland Empowerment Zone which I still regard as an innovative application for its time some 20-plus years ago.
Currently, I am thinking about the funding that will be made available through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) which was enacted in March. As we speak, communities are working to better understand how the funding may be used and what compliance looks like, but this is one of this rare times when resources are made available to all our communities at the same time.
If I read the allocations correctly, the County government will be receiving $29 million in funds with another $32 million slated for the 14 jurisdictions in Cumberland County along the following lines: Bridgeton $8,374,653, Millville $7,447,936, and Vineland $12,404,262. The townships in the county breakdown as follows: Commercial Township $ 482,909, Deerfield $295,875, Downe $142,142, Fairfield $580,650, Greenwich $74,460, Hopewell $427,310, Lawrence $300,590, Maurice River $584,383, Shiloh $47,839, Stow Creek $134,578 and Upper Deerfield $714,835.
Understanding that each community will naturally address eligible pressing needs within its own borders first and foremost, the question is whether or not this once-in-a-generation funding stream, at least in part, might permit us to accomplish some things we might not otherwise even contemplate. One of the eligible uses of these funds centers on infrastructure and by that they mean water, sewer, and broadband.
One of the glaring deficiencies in our rural neck of the woods is broadband and connectivity for our rural communities. Other infrastructure concerns focus on water and sewer. With that in mind, is there any value to exploring expansion of water and sewer infrastructure part ways into the townships and if so, how best to study both the needs and the possible solutions?
Another potential need centers on animal shelter services in Cumberland County. As we speak, there is much attention and focus on the question of shelter services; specifically what these services cost each year, what the taxpayers in multiple jurisdictions get for their dollars, whether there is adequate transparency in how things are being done currently, and whether there is not a better more cost effective way to provide these services. At the end of it all, there may not be a more cost effective way to deliver this service for residents, but the right questions are being asked and a possible solution might involve these funds.
In some ways, what constitutes eligible expenditures under the American Rescue Plan Act will feel like a moving target as federal guidance evolves along with the record keeping and reporting requirements that attach to these resources. What makes sense about infrastructure as an area of focus is the fact that upgrading and expanding the right infrastructure, while it is a one-time expenditure, has a multiplier effect that can help the local economy.
Much the same way that the highway expansion effort in the 1950s propelled the nation forward after the war, this infusion of money can allow us to address those basic and fundamental things that are preliminary to attracting and retaining business and industry. A focus on infrastructure will also position us for more robust residential growth. This matters now because the pandemic has changed the way we look at work and the way we look at large metro areas. Remote work and telecommuting is here to stay and life as we know it has changed. How might we collectively use these funds to adapt and respond?