Thirty applications focused on the areas of housing, homelessness, and mental/behavioral health have been received by the City of Grand Junction’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Advisory Committee. The committee was formed to determine the distribution of $9 million in State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds and has received 30 Letter of Interest applications from the community. The three identified areas were chosen for allocation of funding because they represent critical areas of community concern. This funding is anticipated to increase community capacity to respond to affordable housing needs and improve homelessness and mental/behavioral health resources in the city.
ARPA funds are intended to be utilized to support local government response to the economic and public health impacts of COVID-19 alongside efforts to contain impacts to communities, residents, and businesses. The city received a total of $10.4 million in ARPA funding and $1.4 million was allocated to Visit Grand Junction, the Air Alliance, and the Sports Commission to offset lodging tax revenue loss. In order to make decisions about how to spend the remaining $9 million, City Council appointed an ARPA Advisory Committee to provide funding recommendations. After several months of deliberation and to ensure broad community input, ARPA Committee members determined that the funds should be directed to the policy areas of housing, homelessness, and mental/behavioral health.
Following the deadline for applications on August 15, the committee received 30 applications; 12 submitted in the mental/behavioral health category, 11 for housing, and seven focused on homelessness. Applications are currently under review by three ARPA subcommittees who will rank each application and provide an initial set of recommendations to the full ARPA Advisory Committee. The committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, September 13 at 1 p.m. in the city’s Fire Administration Building 625 Ute Avenue to discuss subcommittee recommendations. The committee will make funding recommendations to City Council who will make the final funding decisions.
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Contact: Sara Spaulding, Communications & Engagement Director | 970-985-8180 or saras@gjcity.org