EAST BRIDGEWATER — Town Administrator Brian S. Noble is pleased to report that the Town of East Bridgewater has received its first federal CARES Act reimbursement check to assist with purchases related to COVID-19 upgrades in town.
On Tuesday, July 7, the East Bridgewater Board of Selectmen received the check, which totaled $81,574.24, on behalf of Plymouth County Commissioner Gregory M. Hanley and Plymouth County Treasurer Tom O’Brien. Present for the check presentation were State Senator Michael Brady, State Senator Walter F. Timilty and State Representative Alyson Sullivan.
The funding is part of Phase I of the Plymouth County CARES Program, which will provide support to local communities impacted by COVID-19. Plymouth County received approximately $90 million pursuant to the CARES Act, money designated specifically for state and local governments to be expended for allowable purposes related to the pandemic.
Plymouth County intends to make these funds available to local governmental entities within Plymouth County through a series of grant funding cycles.
“This money will be vital not only for municipal employees but also for the people who live, work in and visit our town,” Town Administrator Noble said. “We must all remain vigilant in the fight against COVID-19, and this money will help make East Bridgewater safer for all.”
Unlike other counties in Massachusetts, Plymouth County distributed its federal CARES funding to its cities and towns, rather than cities and towns applying directly to the federal government. The funding will not cover lost revenue related to the shutdown, but rather will be used for reimbursement of money spent on COVID-19-related purchases. This could include the conversion of municipal workspaces to allow for greater social distancing, temperature-taking devices, sterilization equipment and IT infrastructure upgrades.
The Town is also able to use reimbursement money on equipment purchased for the East Bridgewater Public Schools, such as upgraded laptops for teachers and Chromebooks for students to use during remote learning.
For more information on the Town of East Bridgewater’s COVID-19 response, click here.To learn more about the Plymouth County Cares program, click here.