STARKVILLE — Mississippi Public Service Commissioner for the Northern District Brandon Presley believes the best usage of American Rescue Plan Act funds is toward infrastructure improvements, specifically broadband.

In order for the best quality of life, Presley said connectivity to the internet is key as he presented on the topic of ARPA at Starkville Rotary Club’s meeting Monday. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans have utilized the internet more than any time in history, he said, citing that the economy is going toward the direction of being fully web-based, but those who live in rural areas in Mississippi might be at a disadvantage.

“I got an email from a lady last week,” Presley said. “Her doctor is in Memphis, and she lives in a rural part of Tippah County, and she said, ‘I have so much comfort and peace of mind because I know that my cardiologist can see what is going on with me, and in case there is something, I can be alerted.’ That’s not available to families, to people who live in rural, disconnected communities.”

Due to COVID-19 relief funds, some Mississippians could now have access to internet connection.

The state will receive approximately $1.8 billion in ARPA over the next two years to help assist Mississippians in COVID-19 relief efforts, with nearly $900 million going directly to city and county governments. Categories ARPA funds can be spent on include tourism, water/sewer/broadband, assistance to businesses and families disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and premium pay for public employees, according to federal guidelines.

Another $166 million is allotted for capital improvement projects, specifically to help rural communities with broadband.

Over the last two years, Mississippi has gone from the 49th state to 42nd in terms of access to internet connectivity, but there are still homes across the state that do not have broadband, Presley said. There are only particular categories ARPA can be used for, and government officials should be prioritizing bringing the modern economy of technology to the people, he said.

“We’re never going to return to an economy or business cycle in this country that was just like it was pre-COVID,” Presley said. “… We know in terms of economic development that connectivity is the key to our future.”

While Oktibbeha County has not decided how to allocate its funds yet, the city of Starkville voted to dedicate $5.5 million of its $6.2 million to park improvements and to help finish construction at the Cornerstone Park baseball/softball complex under construction. Mayor Lynn Spruill has said she believes this decision will have the greatest impact on the largest number of people.

Only $200,000 of Starkville funds were dedicated to infrastructure to help improve water issues in the Northgate subdivision in Starkville.

Presley said he has met with many cities and counties across the state to help find ways to spend their dollars. He said he has seen many instances of governments getting “cute and cocky with federal dollars” and attempting to spend it on projects that might not even qualify under the ARPA guidelines.

“These dollars will never come our way again and shame on us that are in elected office if we spend these dollars on something that is a ‘pet project’ that may or may not even comply with the rules,” Presley said.

Presley said he will continue to advocate to elected officials on the money allocated specifically to broadband to help rural communities, but local governments need to be seriously considering creating internet and infrastructure plans for its residents as well, making early small investments that have long term benefits for the people of Mississippi.

“I ask people, ‘How many people in your counties don’t have access to water?’” Presley said. “How many people don’t have access to the internet … and their top priorities may or may not even qualify within the program. Now, that’s wrong. … We’ve been given $1.8 billion to respond to the mess that has resulted from this pandemic and to look at broad spots of infrastructure needs that must be fixed in our state that must be fixed in the future.”