Indianapolis City-County Council approves final allocation of CARES Act funds
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — An emergency City-County Council meeting was called to order Wednesday; it ended with a unanimous vote to approve Mayor Joe Hogsett’s funding distribution plan.
Councilors were on a time crunch to get the plan passed. States that received coronavirus relief funds have until December 30 to disperse the money or it has to be sent back to the federal government.
To date the city has used more than $92 million in CARES Act funding. Indianapolis received its first round of funds in April but it wasn’t until the end of the month when states received spending guidance.
In May, city leaders began conversations to assess areas of need, then in June millions of dollars in federal funds went to programs throughout the city.
Here is the breakdown of how the remaining dollars will be spent:
Public Health Investments
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for teachers: $250,000
Mental health public awareness campaign: $175,000
Immigrant welcome center – public health outreach: $58,320
Social Service Investments
Rental assistance: $7,500,000
Foreclosure prevention and mortgage refinancing: $7,000,000
Non-congregate housing -hotel program: $3,180,000
Homeless services -winter contingency: $5,132,000
Food bank – community distribution support: $2,100,000
Gleaners meal school distributions: $750,000
Step-up violence reduction student outreach: $102,000
Door to door tenant outreach and eviction prevention assistance: $65,000
Reentry credit repair and financial coaching: $150,000
Internet connectivity pilot: $732,150
Home delivery food services for at risk population: $760,000
Economic and Small Business Recovery
Small business assistance grant (hospitality program): $7,500,000
GED equivalency program extension: $2,060,000
JAG dropout prevention program: $500,000
Indy achieves -promise scholarship: $172,500
KIB jobs program: $152,400
Arts and cultural institutions emergency relief grant: $500,000
Music cities recovery program round two: $150,000
Technology and Government Expenses
Building modifications for Indiana convention center: $7,000,000
Government operations reimbursement: $30,028,964 – mostly public safety salaries
Mobile worker app: $100,000
Mayor Hogsett said while these funds will help some, he knows this is not a long-term solution.
“We know that these funds, we know that these dollars, huge as they seem are woefully insufficient. Our request of those in Washington is just as urgent, please act to provide additional relief to those suffering in our city.”
President of Indiana Restaurant and Lodging Association Patrick Tamm said with 80,000 people in Indianapolis who rely on tourism to pay their bills, his industry is just barely scraping by.
Part of the federal dollars would put an additional $7.5 million into the service and entertainment industry, but given all that’s been lost, Tamm isn’t sure how much good that will do.
“The mayor is absolutely correct, $7 million we appreciate his attention to that, but the reality is we need federal help and we need federal help now,” said Tamm.