PHOENIX, AZ – Job creation, small business loans, and education funding are a big part of the nearly $ 200 million federal aid approved this week by the City of Phoenix.
The $ 198 million funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which provides funding in a variety of areas such as state and local aid, education, rental aid, transit, individual incentive payments, and other provisions.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and members of Phoenix City Council signed the city’s plan for funding on Wednesday, which the city received in May.
Gallego described the city’s plan as a solid blueprint to stimulate areas of the local economy that have not recovered as quickly from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as small businesses.
“The decisions we made today are putting money where it matters,” said Kate Gallego, Phoenix Mayoress. “Although some industries are booming, we still have small business owners hanging by a thread, employees who have lost their jobs and are trying to get back into work, and children who have fallen too far behind in school – mention art communities that have shut down and veterans who are on the verge of homelessness. With targeted help for these groups, we give them better chances of success and thus improve the recovery prospects for our entire city. ”
This is where most of the nearly $ 200 million federal funding will go:
- Help for vulnerable groups: A total of $ 28 million will be used to help families pay utilities, rent, and mortgage payments. An additional $ 31.5 million will serve individuals, families, and veterans who are homeless or in need of psychological assistance. The funds also flow into the city’s heat supply facilities.
- Education: The city’s plan provides $ 28.8 million for youth sports, education, and after-school programs, in addition to College Depot programs to prepare teenagers for college, early literacy tuition, sports league scholarships, and after-school programs in city-owned parks . The city announced that the money will help Phoenix children make up for lost time and get their education back on track.
- Small and micro businesses: The city plans to spend $ 8 million to help businesses grappling with the ongoing effects of the closings and slowdowns from the pandemic. In addition, $ 2.75 million will be used to rebuild the city’s arts and cultural organizations, while an additional $ 2 million will help small businesses find, train and retain employees.
- Workplaces: The plan provides $ 10 million in workforce training, as well as childcare and other barriers that keep job seekers from re-entering the world of work.
- Vaccination: The city plans to spend $ 5 million on education, outreach, and incentives to increase Phoenix’s COVID-19 vaccination rate. The funds will be used for things like converting urban COVID-19 mobile test vehicles into mobile vaccination sites.
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