MERRILLVILLEÂ â A business relief program is among ideas being considered for the $7 million Merrillville will receive through the American Rescue Plan Act. No final decisions have been made, but town officials had initial discussions Monday regarding how the funding could be spent. âWe just penciled in some stuff,â Town Councilman Richard Hardaway said. âThings that we would like to see the money used for.â Council President Rick Bella said there are many permitted uses for ARPA funding, and assisting businesses that were affected by the pandemic is being explored. âThere may be grant money available for the small businesses in the area that had to lay off workers or lost money during the last year,â Hardaway said.