Framework outlines priorities and a process for maximizing the impact of once-in-a-generation investment in the City of Cleveland
Friday, May 13, 2022 - Cleveland, OH – Today Mayor Justin M. Bibb announced 10 priorities to maximize American Rescue Plan & Recovery Act (ARPA) and other federal funds coming to the City of Cleveland.
In 2021, the City of Cleveland received the eighth largest allocation of ARPA funds in the U.S., totaling $512 million over two years. The City received half of these dollars in Fall 2021 and will receive the remainder in Summer 2022.
Mayor Bibb’s Rescue & Transformation Plan outlines priorities and a process for maximizing the use of federal funds including ARPA, the Infrastructure Innovation and Jobs Act (IIJA) and other legislation still under development that is expected over the next few years.
“Our playbook for investing these dollars must be organized, transparent, equitable, deliberate and purposeful,” said Mayor Bibb. “We are not interested in one-off projects. We are focused on the big picture and on projects and initiatives that impact Clevelanders in a tangible way.”
The Mayor’s 10 priorities are as follows:
Stabilizing the Budget
ARPA-funds were primarily intended to assist cities with revenue replacement that was lost due to the impacts of COVID-19.
Inclusive Economic Recovery
We’re moving away from managing decline to making investments that drive growth in Cleveland’s neighborhoods that have been overlooked or excluded in the past.
Housing For All
Affordable housing and investments that drive wealth creation and homeownership.
Violence Prevention & Public Safety
A comprehensive approach to public safety invests in initiatives that address the root causes of violence and crime. We must invest in proven programs focused on proactive intervention and prevention.
Closing the Digital Divide
Thirty percent of residents don’t have internet or reliable Wi-Fi or broadband services. We’re committed to making targeted investments to close the digital divide and make internet access more affordable and accessible.
A Modern & Transparent City Hall
Residents of Cleveland deserve a responsive City Hall that embraces the best practices in constituent engagement. Achieving this requires investment in new technologies, services and process improvements.
Education for Everyone
From newborns to adult learners, from students to CEOs, improving education is the foundation of our future. We must support learning at all ages, inside and outside the classroom to improve literacy rates, college and work readiness.
Lead-safe Cleveland
Cleveland is facing a lead crisis. Nearly 90% of our housing stock was built before lead paint was outlawed. We must put a stop to this public health emergency and make properties lead-safe to ensure no more children are impacted by the dangers of lead exposure.
Arts & Neighborhood Amenities
Cleveland is a city on the rise and our arts, recreation, parks, cultural treasures and other amenities should reflect that.
Civic Participation Fund
Cleveland's 17 wards can identify important neighborhood projects and advocate for change at the hyper-local level in partnership with City Council.
The plan will be executed by the new Center for Economic Recovery, a strategic policy team that will engage with Cleveland City Council to shape and evaluate ideas for ARPA-funded projects that address our most urgent challenges.
The Center for Economic Recovery will equitably and strategically assess applications for ARPA-funding using the same evaluation criteria to make strategic decisions to achieve our long-term vision. They will also consider all possible sources of funding to ensure the City makes the best use of ARPA and other one-time federal dollars.
The second tranche of ARPA funding is expected to arrive in June 2022. Mayor Bibb’s Rescue & Transformation Plan provides a framework for the City to be prepared to compete for additional funding from a variety of sources.
Learn more at Mayor Bibb’s Rescue & Transformation Plan.
