Rockingham County (New Hampshire)

Recovery Plan 

State and Local Fiscal Recovery 

Funds

2021 Report
Rockingham County (New Hampshire) 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 1

Rockingham County (New Hampshire)

2021 Recovery Plan

Table of Contents

General Overview......................................................................................................................2

Executive Summary.................................................................................................................2

Uses of Funds .........................................................................................................................3

Promoting Equitable Outcomes ...............................................................................................5

Community Engagement .........................................................................................................5

Labor Practices .......................................................................................................................5

Use of Evidence ......................................................................................................................6

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category...........................................................................6

Project Inventory.......................................................................................................................8

Performance Report .................................................................................................................8
Rockingham County (New Hampshire) 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 2

GENERAL OVERVIEW

Executive Summary 

Rockingham County, New Hampshire (“the County”) has been awarded approximately $60.2 

million from the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (“SLFRF”) under the American Rescue 

Plan Act (“ARPA”). In May 2021, the County received $30.1 million, representing one half of its 

total allotment of SLFRF monies. The funds received are being treated as federal grant funds 

and therefore recorded as part of the County’s Contingent Grant Special Revenue Fund, outside 

of the General Fund.

The County set up an “ARPA” committee, comprised of State Representative Patrick Abrami, 

County Commissioner Brian Chirichiello, Human Resources Director Alison Kivikoski and 

Finance Director Charles Nickerson. This committee spent two months conducting discussions 

with Division Directors and Elected Officials regarding potential projects that could be funded by 

the distributions from the SLFRF. 

Based upon these discussions and current Treasury guidelines, a framework of eligible projects 

was composed, including the following items:

• $25 million for construction of a new building to house the County Attorney’s Office, 

Registry of Deeds, Sheriff’s Office, and Delegation Office, which will alleviate 

overcrowded working conditions and poor HVAC systems at the State-owned 

courthouse building and provide a proper worksite for County public safety operations.

• $8 million for construction and operation of a Community Corrections facility, which 

will be run by the Department of Corrections and provide mental health and substance 

use services with a 90-day in-house program.

• $8 million for construction of a solar array on County property that will generate 

enough megawatts to cover 100% of the County complex’s electricity needs. This 

project would be funded from monies available from the Revenue Replacement 

expense category established by the U.S. Treasury.

• $3.9 million for Countywide HVAC infrastructure projects to mitigate the occurrence 

and spread of COVID-19, notably in Long Term Care Services and the Department of 

Corrections.

• $3.2 million for premium pay to essential County employees

• $2.7 million for Job Training Assistance, including support for LNA, MNA and LPN 

training programs, employee scholarship programs, Nursing leadership education 

courses, and new hire/referral incentives for critical County positions (notably Nursing 

Department vacancies and Correctional Officers).

• $2.2 million for services to disproportionately impacted communities

• $2 million for water-related infrastructure projects

• $1 million to provide assistance to nonprofit organizations and local businesses 

involved in tourism, travel or hospitality that were negatively impacted by COVID-19.

The Board of County Commissioners will ultimately determine the funds spent for each eligible 

project that has been identified and, depending on Final Rule guidance from the U.S. Treasury, 

the listing of projects and allocated amounts may change.
Rockingham County (New Hampshire) 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 3

Uses of Funds

Rockingham County’s initial listing of eligible projects covers all of the Expenditure Categories 

cited by the U.S. Treasury in its Compliance and Reporting guidance:

a. Public Health (EC 1)

b. Negative Economic Impacts (EC 2)

c. Services to Disproportionately Impacted Communities (EC 3)

d. Premium Pay (EC 4)

e. Water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure (EC 5)

f. Revenue replacement (EC 6)

Public Health

The largest project proposed to be partially funded by SLFRF monies is the construction of a 

new building to house the County Attorney’s Office, Registry of Deeds, Sheriff’s Office, and 

Delegation Office. The first two departments cited are in the State-owned courthouse building, 

which has a dilapidated HVAC system and extremely poor water/wastewater system which has 

led to those departments experiencing poor air quality and several septic system backups. The 

County Attorney’s Office and Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center are also very overcrowded 

worksites, and in need of relocation. (EC 1.4)

Another major project of the County is to construct a Community Corrections facility, which will 

provide a 90-day treatment program with mental health and substance use services. The opioid 

epidemic has been an ongoing issue for Rockingham County, and there has been a sharp 

increase in inmates needing mental health services. (EC 1.10 and EC 1.11)

Rockingham County also plans to upgrade or replace HVAC equipment for several County 

buildings, including those for its nursing home, assisted living facility and Department of 

Corrections. This should help to mitigate the occurrence and spread of COVID-19 in the

workplace and congregate settings. (EC 1.4)

The Sheriff’s Office has two communications projects: one is to replace and improve their 

Dispatch Center communications system, and the other is to install an antenna that will provide 

adequate signal coverage for the western part of Rockingham County. (EC 1.8)

Rockingham County is also supporting a project to cover COVID-19 testing for Long Term Care 

staff and residents, as other sources of State and Federal funding are set to expire at the end of 

the 2021 calendar year. It is also setting aside a small amount of funds for mobile vaccination 

units, in case Federal passthrough monies to the State assigned for this purpose lapse. (EC 1.1 

and EC 1.2)

Negative Economic Impacts

Rockingham County is setting aside funds to provide assistance to nonprofit organizations and 

local businesses involved in tourism, travel or hospitality that were negatively impacted by 

COVID-19, with a preference/focus on those organizations and businesses that received little or 

no prior financial assistance from prior COVID-19-related aid programs, such as Paycheck 

Protection Program (PPP) loans. (EC 2.10 and EC 2.11)
Rockingham County (New Hampshire) 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 4

The County intends to provide support for LNA, MNA and LPN training programs, employee 

scholarship programs, Nursing leadership education courses, and new hire/referral incentives 

for critical County positions (notably Nursing Department vacancies and Correctional Officers). 

There is a great shortage of direct care Nursing staff and Correctional Officers being 

experienced by Rockingham County and counties across the country. Hopefully, some of these 

programs and incentives will attract and retain employees in these key positions, and also 

provide jobs to some individuals who are currently unemployed. (EC 2.7)

Services to Disproportionately Impacted Communities (EC 3)

The County is looking to support services to disproportionately impacted communities by 

providing subawards to area nonprofit organizations to enhance the services that they are 

already providing to minority communities and/or lower income households. Depending upon 

the services being provided, these subawards could cover several subcategories under EC 3.

Rockingham County is also providing services to disproportionately impacted communities by 

running its own Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which is funded from federal recovery 

funds under the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act. 

This program has assisted many minority groups and lower income households, and the

number of requests and program inquires has increased sharply over recent weeks.

Premium Pay (EC 4)

Rockingham County intends to utilize some of its fiscal recovery funds for various premium pay 

programs in an effort to attract and retain essential workers, with higher amounts for critical 

staffing positions such as those in the Nursing Department and Correctional Officers.

Water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure (EC 5)

Some of the County’s water/wastewater infrastructure is in need of repairs and/or replacements. 

One project would be to replace water pipes that run under North Road, the major thoroughfare 

that runs through the County complex. Other funds would be dedicated for individual waterrelated projects that have not been fully analyzed yet. The County would also like to do a 

localized complex broadband project, which would result in high-speed internet access for each 

resident room in the nursing home and assisted living facility.

Revenue replacement (EC 6)

The County is still formulating projects for use of funds under this category, which may change 

depending upon the yearly lost revenue calculations under SLFRF. One possible major capital 

project under EC 6 may be installation of a 4.4 megawatt solar array on County property. A 

solar project of this magnitude would cover all of the complex’s electricity needs, generate 

renewable energy credits, help reduce future budgetary impacts to County taxpayers, and have 

a positive environmental impact.

While there is a preliminary plan on how to allot the $60.2 million award under the SLFRF 

amongst the approved Expense Categories, details of several projects are still a work in 

progress, pending Final Rule guidance from the U.S. Treasury and ultimate individual 

expenditure approval by the Board of County Commissioners.
Rockingham County (New Hampshire) 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 5

Promoting equitable outcomes 

Rockingham County is looking to equitably distribute assistance to local small nonprofits and 

businesses negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic by placing a focus on distributing 

funds to those organizations that received little or no assistance from previous COVID-19 aid 

programs, such as the Payroll Protection Program. Through review of a detailed application 

process, it will be determined which entities should receive financial assistance.

The County will also have a detailed application process for area nonprofit organizations to 

apply for subawards to enhance their efforts in providing services to communities 

disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Preference will be given to those 

nonprofits that provide vital assistance to the most vulnerable communities in Rockingham 

County. Through subrecipient monitoring, metrics and various data points will be collected to 

determine how services are being distributed to minority groups and low income households. 

As part of individual subrecipient agreements, nonprofit agencies will agree to collect such data 

and provide it to the County in a timely manner.

To promote awareness of Rockingham County programs and services funded by the SLFRF, 

the County will take the following steps:

1. Publish details of the SLFRF projects, programs and services on the County website

2. Communicate directly to the 36 towns in the County details of programs and services 

available to residents and businesses

3. Make posts to the County’s Facebook page and Twitter account to inform the general 

public of SLFRF-funded programs and services

4. Periodically place notices in local newspapers regarding availability of programs and 

services

5. Reach out directly to area nonprofit organizations to inform them of programs and 

services funded by the SLFRF

Community Engagement 

The County’s ARPA Committee met with and received feedback from Division Directors and 

Elected Officials for potential projects that could be funded with SLFRF monies. A few nonprofit 

organizations have also reached out to inquire if Rockingham County would be issuing 

subawards so that they could enhance/increase services that they were already providing in the 

community, which would benefit those disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus 

pandemic.

Labor Practices 

No infrastructure projects under Expenditure Category 5 have been approved yet by the County 

Commissioners, though some of the funds awarded to the County under the SLFRF have been 

allocated to water/wastewater capital projects. If infrastructure projects are approved in the 

future, reporting on workforce practices will be included in future compliance reports to the U.S. 

Treasury.
Rockingham County (New Hampshire) 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 6

Use of Evidence 

The preliminary listing of projects does include some that would include SLFRF funds being 

used for evidence-based interventions or rigorous program evaluations that are designed to 

build evidence. However, until the Commissioners approve finalization of these specific projects 

or applicable assistance awards (e.g. to nonprofit agencies under EC 2.10), or subrecipient 

agreements are made with nonprofit organizations as part of EC 3, the amount of SLFRF funds 

specifically dedicated for evidentiary purposes will not be known. When these specific amounts 

are determined, they will be part of future compliance reporting to the U.S. Treasury.

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category

Note: Rockingham County did not have any SLFRF funds expended through July 31, 2021. 

The Category rows represented below are indicative of the potential subcategories based upon 

the preliminary projects listing composed by the ARPA committee.

Category Cumulative

expenditures to 

date ($)

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan

1 Expenditure Category: Public Health

1.1 COVID-19 Vaccination

1.2 COVID-19 Testing

1.4 Prevention in Congregate Settings (Nursing 

Homes, Prisons/Jails, Dense Work Sites, 

Schools, etc.)

1.7 Capital Investments or Physical Plant Changes 

to Public Facilities that respond to the COVID19 public health emergency

1.8 Other COVID-19 Public Health Expenses 

(including Communications, Enforcement, 

Isolation/Quarantine)

1.9 Payroll Costs for Public Health, Safety, and 

Other Public Sector Staff Responding to 

COVID-19

1.10 Mental Health Services

1.11 Substance Use Services

2 Expenditure Category: Negative Economic 

Impacts

2.7 Job Training Assistance (e.g., Sectoral jobtraining, Subsidized Employment, Employment 

Supports or Incentives)

2.10 Aid to nonprofit organizations

2.11 Aid to Tourism, Travel, or Hospitality

2.14 Rehiring Public Sector Staff

3 Expenditure Category: Services to 

Disproportionately Impacted Communities

3.1 Education Assistance: Early Learning 
Rockingham County (New Hampshire) 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 7

Category Cumulative

expenditures to 

date ($)

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan

3.2 Education Assistance: Aid to High-Poverty 

Districts

3.3 Education Assistance: Academic Services 

3.4 Education Assistance: Social, Emotional, and 

Mental Health Services 

3.5 Education Assistance: Other 

3.6 Healthy Childhood Environments: Child Care 

3.7 Healthy Childhood Environments: Home Visiting 

3.8 Healthy Childhood Environments: Services to 

Foster Youth or Families Involved in Child 

Welfare System 

3.9. Healthy Childhood Environments: Other 

3.13 Social Determinants of Health: Other 

3.14 Social Determinants of Health: Community 

Health Workers or Benefits Navigators 

3.15 Social Determinants of Health: Lead 

Remediation

3.16 Social Determinants of Health: Community 

Violence Interventions 

4 Expenditure Category: Premium Pay

4.1 Public Sector Employees

5 Expenditure Category: Infrastructure

5.1 Clean Water: Centralized wastewater treatment

5.2 Clean Water: Centralized wastewater collection 

and conveyance

5.3 Clean Water: Decentralized wastewater

5.4 Clean Water: Combined sewer overflows

5.5 Clean Water: Other sewer infrastructure

5.6 Clean Water: Stormwater

5.7 Clean Water: Energy conservation

5.8 Clean Water: Water conservation

5.9 Clean Water: Nonpoint source 

5.10 Drinking water: Treatment

5.11 Drinking water: Transmission & distribution

5.12 Drinking water: Transmission & distribution: 

lead remediation

5.13 Drinking water: Source

5.14 Drinking water: Storage 

5.15 Drinking water: Other water infrastructure

5.17 Broadband: Other projects

6 Expenditure Category: Revenue Replacement

6.1 Provision of Government Services
Rockingham County (New Hampshire) 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 8

Category Cumulative

expenditures to 

date ($)

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan

7 Administrative and Other

7.1 Administrative Expenses 

7.2 Evaluation and data analysis 

Project Inventory 

While the ARPA committee did compose a preliminary listing of SLFRF eligible projects with 

allotted amounts (which were in part disclosed under the Executive Summary and Use of Funds 

sections), the County Commissioners have not yet approved individual projects aside from 

partial use of funds set aside to assist local businesses

Example Project 

Project 2.11.A: Local Business Gift Card Purchase Program

Funding amount: $5,000

Project Expenditure Category: 2.11, Aid to Tourism, Travel, or Hospitality

Project overview

• Gift cards are purchased by the County from local business in the tourism, travel or 

hospitality industries.

• The gift cards are then distributed to County essential workers that were nominated by 

their supervisors and have shown exceptional performance during the coronavirus 

pandemic. Individual employees are only eligible to awarded one gift card.

• Purchase of the gift cards help to support local businesses, with an added goal of 

increasing employee morale and retention.

Performance Report

The County Commissioners have not yet approved individual projects aside from Local 

Business Gift Card Purchase Program cited above. There were no expenses or activity 

regarding this particular project through July 31, 2021. As projects are approved and funds 

expended, future reports will provide key performance indicators for projects in the Expenditure 

Categories that have these mandatory performance indicators.