SEN. SIMMONS HELPS OBTAIN $15M OF ARPA FUNDS FOR LOCAL PROJECTS

Apr 11, 2022

During the just-completed 2022 Mississippi Legislative session, state legislators had not only to deal with the business of determining the expenditure of the regular state budget, they also had to determine how to use $1.9 trillion in federal money from the American Rescue Plan.

Senator Derrick Simmons, D-Greenville, said the influx of federal dollars is a once-in-a-generation opportunity.

“I was glad to be instrumental in the process to help fix systemic problems that have faced our citizens for decades,” Simmons said. “The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) caused Mississippi to receive $1.8 billion of that to help with infrastructure repair and construction, especially when it comes to water, sewage and broadband.”

Of the $1.8 billion, legislators appropriated more than $1.5 billion to various agencies such as $60 million to Accelerate MS to assist with nurse training and health science infrastructure at community colleges and universities; $30 million for tourism at designated marketing organizations; $25 million to the Department of Health to assist with Telehealth, IT, and computer-related infrastructure; $450 million to the Department of Environmental Quality to assist cities and counties well-water and sewer projects; and $300 million to the Department of Health to assist rural water and sewer projects. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and Mississippi Department of Health-related projects will be administered through an application process with those respective agencies.

Simmons said requests from municipalities throughout the state were used to determine the total infrastructure needs of the state. While that dollar figure far outpaces the total amount the state has to spend, those requests will be used to determine importance and funding.

Simmons said he has helped steer about $15 million in projects to Greenville and the greater Delta.

Those projects include:

* $500,000 to the City of Greenville in paying costs of construction and development of the green space associated with the federal courthouse as part of the Thad Cochran Courthouse Project;

* $150,000 to the Coahoma County Higher Education Center for completion of HVAC system;

* $1,500,000 to the City of Greenville in paying costs of redevelopment of Hanger 173 at the airport to assist MDCC aerospace maintenance instruction program;

* $1,000,000 to the City of Cleveland in paying costs associated with the Airport Terminal Road Extension Project;

* $2,000,000 to Delta Health System for capital improvements and infrastructure improvements related to patient room compliance and women's center services;

* $2,500,000 to the BB King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in paying costs associated with renovations, repairs and improvements to the Museum and Club Ebony; and

* $7,500,000 for construction of new men's dormitory at Mississippi Delta Community College to be used for fire academy housing.

While funneling dollars to his district was a major accomplishment in this session, Simmons said he is also proud of work steering the selection of a new state song written by one of his constituents.

“One of the highlights of the session was passing the ‘One Mississippi’ song written and performed by our very own Steve Azar,” Simmons said. “It was a joy to burn the midnight oil with legislative leaders, Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann and Speaker Phillip Gunn in getting this song over the finish line.”

As part of the regular budget this year, three state positions will see pay increases.

Teachers will see the highest pay raise in the state’s history at an average of $5,100.

Sheriffs will receive a pay raise of $5,000 and counties with a detention center have an option to pay their sheriffs an additional $5,000. District attorneys will receive a pay raise of $8,500 and investigators will receive an increase of $3500.