Jail expansion background

EMAIL OR CALL JPS AND SHERIFF:  Reach out to anyone you know in the Washington county community and let them know this is happening and to contact their JPs and the Sheriff to tell them this is not the way to invest in our community.  Ask JPs to PAUSE until a full plan and discussion can be made for the American Rescue money and the rules are finalized on how the monies can be used.  Benton County’s Quorum Court just announced it will hold multiple meetings to discuss use of the Rescue money, during which the JPs will be presented with “a methodical plan to consider projects that are possible and would benefit the citizens of our county that fit into the parameters of the rules of the program.”  Justice of the Peace Ken Farmer of Rogers:  "We will be able to hear proposals and ideas without the pressure of an immediate decision," he said. "We will have time to decide what is best for us. I think we should listen to all ideas before we make a final decision." We need Washington Co to follow Benton County’s lead in approaching how to spend this money - ask JPs to PAUSE, and to have an organized, thorough, and transparent process to decide how the money should be spent.

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Ask to explore these areas:

• Assistance to households includes, but is not limited to: food assistance; rent, mortgage, or utility assistance; counseling and legal aid to prevent eviction or homelessness; cash assistance; emergency assistance for burials, home repairs, weatherization, or other needs; internet access or digital literacy assistance; or job training to address negative economic or public health impacts experienced due to a worker’s occupation or level of training.

• Assistance to small business and non-profits includes, but is not limited to: Loans or grants to mitigate financial hardship such as declines in revenues or impacts of periods of business closure, for example by supporting payroll and benefits costs, costs to retain employees, mortgage, rent, or utilities costs, andother operating costs;

•  Loans, grants, or in-kind assistance to implement COVID-19 prevention or mitigation tactics, such as physical plant changes to enable social distancing, enhanced cleaning efforts, barriers or partitions, or COVID-19 vaccination, testing, or contact tracing programs; and

•  Technical assistance, counseling, or other services to assist with business planning needs

• Addressing health disparities and the social determinants of health, including: community health workers, public benefits navigators, remediation of lead paint or other lead hazards, and community violence intervention programs; 

• Building stronger neighborhoods and communities, including: supportive housing and other services for individuals experiencing homelessness, development of affordable housing, and housing vouchers and assistance relocating to neighborhoods with higher levels of economic opportunity; 

• Addressing educational disparities exacerbated by COVID-19, including: early learning services, increasing resources for high-poverty school districts, educational services like tutoring or afterschool programs, and supports for students’ social, emotional, and mental health needs; and 

• Promoting healthy childhood environments, including: child care, home visiting programs for families with young children, and enhanced services for child welfare-involved families and foster youth.