Among the guidelines for how American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funds can be used, cities are allowed to spend funding on new sanitary sewer infrastructure. Duluth already had a long-term plan to add sanitary sewer to two neighborhoods.
As a result, the Duluth City Council recently approved an agreement with Gwinnett County, the owner and operator of all sanitary sewer infrastructure in the county, to bring sanitary sewer to the Pinecrest and Hill communities using these ARPA funds.
Among restrictions, ARPA funds must be obligated by Dec. 31, 2024 and completely spent by December 31, 2026. Duluth has already received the first 50% of anticipated funds, with the latter 50% expected in 2022. To appropriately fund the two projects, Duluth requested that the county also participate financially. Gwinnett will contribute 10% of the construction cost for the sewer projects with a total not-to-exceed $1M.
Additional details for scope, schedule, budget, and responsibility are spelled out in the intergovernmental agreement.