CLEVELAND — Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb and City Council President Blaine A. Griffin have reached an agreement on how to spend the remaining $163 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, the mayor's office said in a Tuesday release.
City Hall states both Bibb and Griffin concluded negotiations following Monday's council meeting, with the council president offering his support and the mayor expecting to make a formal proposal before legislators soon. The allocations will focus on "inclusive economic recovery, neighborhoods, housing, modernizing City Hall, and violence prevention."
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"Our ambition is to transform the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presented by ARPA into funds that last decades and impact generations," Bibb said in a statement, with his office adding most of the investments will last more than 10 years. "These proposals focus dollars in areas that have been long neglected and will create the environment necessary for our residents, neighborhoods, and businesses to thrive. I appreciate Council President Griffin's support of this plan and his commitment to advancing these investments."
Speaking to 3News Tuesday, Griffin also expressed gratitude for the results of the negotiations, believing "everybody" will benefit in the long run.
"We didn't spread [the money] around like peanut butter; we tried to be very surgical," he said. "We put this money into areas of need and areas of growth."
The ARPA funds come from the $1.9 trillion law signed by President Joe Biden in 2021 to help communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and upon taking office a year later Bibb still had more than $460 million to spend. Council has since approved several of his initiatives, including investments for housing reform, lead safety programs, crisis intervention teams, and reforming the city's 311 service request system.
In this latest deal, the largest allocation of $50 million goes towards the establishment of a new "Site Assembly Fund," which Bibb hopes will bring 65,000 jobs to the city and help reverse population loss that has been occurring at an endless clip since the 1950s. The fund will be governed by an advisory board and help with developing and reactivating vacant plots of land.
City Council would also receive $35 million for priority projects, with the mayor's office in particular mentioning the campus for the nonprofit Birthing Beautiful Communities in New Chinatown. Legislators also secured $1.9 million that will go towards the organization RIP Medical Debt, with the goal of wiping out nearly $200 million in medical bills for 49,000 residents.
Other notable plans include:
- $20 million for "waterfront activation," such as the construction of the Beulah Park-Euclid Beach Connector, investments and planning to redevelop the downtown Lake Erie waterfront, and payments for Bedrock's Cuyahoga Riverfront project as well as the construction of Irishtown Bend Park.
- $20 million for capital improvements around the city such as road repair and upgrades to parks and playgrounds.
- $15 million for southeast side communities, including redevelopment of vacant buildings and lots along with grants for home repair.
- $15 million for improvements to the West Side Market as the stoic landmark undergoes a long-awaited revitalization under the control of a new nonprofit.
- $10 million for a brand new "Down Payment Assistance Program," which hopes to help more than 1,200 people buy homes over the next 30 years.
- $10 million for a "Neighborhood Safety Fund" through the Cleveland Foundation that will support "community-driven, evidence-based programming to address the root causes of violence."
- $1.1 million for age-friendly home repair.
- $1 million for new downtown lighting.
- $1 million for utility assistance, specifically those with outstanding water account balances.
- $1 million for the Cleveland Tenants Organization.
Bibb had earlier proposed separate funding for education and a "participatory budgeting process," but it is unknown of those plans will remain intact. Council still has to give its final sign-off on the investments.
"Though this final proposal completes our allocation of ARPA dollars, our work is not done," the mayor wrote. "The whole city— residents, community leaders, and government — must be prepared to work hard to make these ideas a reality. Through this tidal shift in energy, partnership, and investment, we have the potential to revolutionize our city."