Senior centers have until December 9th to get their paperwork “ready” or risk losing the funding

By Charlotte Underwood 

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- On Thursday evening, the Campbell County Commission resumed its meeting that had been recessed on Monday night in order to designate $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the senior citizen centers in the county. The Campbell County Senior Center in LaFollette would get $65,000 of those funds, while the Senior Center in Jellico would get $35,000.

The budget amendment setting aside the funds was passed at last week’s budget and finance meeting, however, the funds had not been “officially” designated to the senior centers, which commissioners took care of on Thursday.

The 65-percent/35-percent ratio splitting the funds between the two senior centers is the county’s policy and has been for years, according to Commissioner Rusty Orick.

At Thursday’s meeting, Commissioner Beverly Hall made the motion to earmark those funds for the senior citizens center, which passed unanimously by the eight commissioners present. 

According to county officials, both senior centers have until December 9th to get their paperwork “ready” or risk losing the funding.

County Mayor Jack Lynch said he would go speak with them in Jellico to help them get the paperwork process started.

Due to it being ARPA monies, the funding can only be “used for Capital Outlay projects and to purchase equipment.”

Representatives with the Tennessee Development District were at Thursday’s meeting to answer any questions regarding how the funds can legally be spent and will also be available to answer questions from the senior centers regarding how the funding can be used.

If the funds are designated to a nonprofit, they must be trackable and can only be designated to 501c3 or 501(19) tax exempt organizations.

The deadline to designate the funds is Dec. 31st of 2024, however, the “spending deadline to spend the money is September of 2026.” (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-11/22/2024-6AM)

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