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Indianapolis received over $200 million in COVID relief; here’s where it went

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Since Congress passed the first economic stimulus package in March 2020, $3 billion of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act money has been spent in Indiana.

I-Team 8 has been investigating how the money was spent for the last year and half and has collected more than 2,000 pages of documents and tracked the spending across the state. But we start with the city of Indianapolis.  

Indianapolis was handed more than $200 million, Mackenzie Higgins, a policy advisor in Mayor Joe Hogsett’s office, says. 

“About 50% went to serving our households and our businesses to ensure that they were able to survive the crisis,” Higgins said. 

Of the $200 million, $168 million went to coronavirus relief efforts. That includes $16 million in small business loans and grants. Another $39 million was used for rent assistance. I-Team 8 previously explained how the city used almost $10M of rent assistance money for hotels to house the city’s homeless population

Most of the money was to be used to pay for a year’s worth of rent for people who qualified. The city admitted to I-Team 8 at the time that the money intended for the rapid rehousing program was slow to get into the right hands.  

Initially, Congress required the coronavirus relief bill money be used by the end of 2020, but that timeframe was eventually extended. However, Indianapolis had already spent its share by mid-December. I-Team 8 asked the city if it could have done without the money.

 “Absolutely not,” Higgins said. “First and foremost, the city when the crisis began had to operate as both employer and service provider, and so about 40% of the investment went into things like investing in technology to ensure that our employees that could work remotely and work safely could do so [and ensuring] that we had leased additional equipment so that our DPW employees were able to socially distance while they collected trash. And so that was just critical for our ability to continue to operate, just perform the basics of government let alone the additional community investments we made to stabilize our residents and our businesses.” 

 Documents obtained by I-Team 8 show how the city spent the money. The Arts Council of Indianapolis received more than $500,000.  

The Capital Improvement Board, which operates Lucas Oil Stadium and Bankers Life Fieldhouse, was given more than $15 million. The Indianapolis Private Industry Council, which operates Employ Indy, was given more than $5 million.

Initially, federal rules didn’t allow the use of coronavirus relief bill money to buy equipment, vehicles or buildings. Only expenses directly related to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic were allowed, like personal protective equipment, medical supplies and testing. But then the rules started to change and blew the lid right off the spending caps.  

Indianapolis was able to purchase some technology that has a shelf life beyond the pandemic. The city did receive an additional $4 million to cover public safety salaries.

A summary of Indianapolis’ sources of funding can be found here. Below is a breakdown of how Indianapolis has spent its coronavirus relief bill money.

  • App users: Click here to see Indianapolis’ spending breakdown
Name Voucher Sum of Amount
5 ALARM FIRE & SAFETY EQUIPMENT 00019273  49,951.00 
5 ALARM FIRE & SAFETY EQUIPMENT 00019275  8,663.75 
AIRPORT INN DEVELOPERS LP 00003998  418,565.84 
AIRPORT INN DEVELOPERS LP 00003454  39,975.00 
AIRPORT INN DEVELOPERS LP 00003455  42,375.00 
AIRPORT INN DEVELOPERS LP 00003998  17,650.00 
ALLISON PAYMENT SYSTEMS LLC 00037137  41,888.22 
ARTS COUNCIL OF INDIANAPOLIS INC 00036672  250,000.00 
ARTS COUNCIL OF INDIANAPOLIS INC 00036812  250,000.00 
ARTS COUNCIL OF INDIANAPOLIS INC 00035452  20,000.00 
BEE LINE LAUNDRY 00003447  1,746.50 
BEE LINE LAUNDRY 00003451  2,725.50 
BEE LINE LAUNDRY 00003575  2,966.50 
BEE LINE LAUNDRY 00003576  1,623.93 
BEE LINE LAUNDRY 00003577  3,047.50 
BEE LINE LAUNDRY 00003578  2,478.08 
BEE LINE LAUNDRY 00003656  1,233.98 
BEE LINE LAUNDRY 00003902  2,039.72 
BEE LINE LAUNDRY 00003946  9,468.02 
BEE LINE LAUNDRY 00003947  12,897.50 
BELL TECHLOGIX INC 00036206  65,298.51 
BELL TECHLOGIX INC 00036207  3,715.48 
BELL TECHLOGIX INC 00036209  18,068.48 
BELL TECHLOGIX INC 00036550  27,909.45 
BELL TECHLOGIX INC 00036881  22,771.00 
BELL TECHLOGIX INC 00036882  28,053.85 
BELL TECHLOGIX INC 00036931  52,584.00 
BELL TECHLOGIX INC 00036932  42,262.00 
BELL TECHLOGIX INC 00036981  20,585.06 
BELL TECHLOGIX INC 00036982  39,145.36 
BELL TECHLOGIX INC 00036984  25,050.82 
BELL TECHLOGIX INC 00036985  25,741.44 
BELL TECHLOGIX INC 00036986  2,530.95 
BELL TECHLOGIX INC 00036987  21,934.90 
BENSUSSEN DEUTSCH & ASSOCIATES LLC 00003269  607,500.00 
BENSUSSEN DEUTSCH & ASSOCIATES LLC 00003276  607,500.00 
BENSUSSEN DEUTSCH & ASSOCIATES LLC 00003322  405,000.00 
BENSUSSEN DEUTSCH & ASSOCIATES LLC 00003323  405,000.00 
BENSUSSEN DEUTSCH & ASSOCIATES LLC 00003324  105,927.59 
BENSUSSEN DEUTSCH & ASSOCIATES LLC 00003406  424,512.80 
BENSUSSEN DEUTSCH & ASSOCIATES LLC 00003420  405,000.00 
BENSUSSEN DEUTSCH & ASSOCIATES LLC 00003421  405,000.00 
BENSUSSEN DEUTSCH & ASSOCIATES LLC 00003422  405,000.00 
BENSUSSEN DEUTSCH & ASSOCIATES LLC 00003452  164,177.67 
BENSUSSEN DEUTSCH & ASSOCIATES LLC 00003453  405,000.00 
BENSUSSEN DEUTSCH & ASSOCIATES LLC 00003519  25,713.19 
BENSUSSEN DEUTSCH & ASSOCIATES LLC 00003520  405,000.00 
BENSUSSEN DEUTSCH & ASSOCIATES LLC 00003615  11,928.64 
BENSUSSEN DEUTSCH & ASSOCIATES LLC 00003735  3,437.04 
BENSUSSEN DEUTSCH & ASSOCIATES LLC 00003736  9,861.17 
BERKONE INC 00036952  39,405.00 
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOARD 00037130  3,583,883.02 
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOARD 00037669  1,250,000.00 
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOARD 00036813  1,000,000.00 
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOARD 00036814  84,303.00 
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOARD 00036780  11,000,000.00 
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOARD 00036784  750,000.00 
CARAHSOFT TECHNOLOGY CORP 00035949  350,000.00 
CARAHSOFT TECHNOLOGY CORP 00036790  326,531.25 
CARAHSOFT TECHNOLOGY CORP 00036791  19,500.00 
CARAHSOFT TECHNOLOGY CORP 00036930  19,500.00 
CARAHSOFT TECHNOLOGY CORP 00037047  188,125.00 
CENTRAL INDIANA CORP PARTNERSHIP INC 00037140  732,150.00 
CITY MARKET CORPORATION 00037632  142,137.00 
CITY OF BEECH GROVE 00036407  119,302.36 
CITY OF BEECH GROVE 00036480  70,538.30 
CITY OF BEECH GROVE 00036481  13,007.55 
CITY OF BEECH GROVE 00036994  8,892.79 
CITY OF LAWRENCE 00036511  125,479.42 
CITY OF LAWRENCE 00036746  142,049.43 
CITY OF LAWRENCE 00036797  433,626.15 
CLAWSON COMMUNICATIONS INC 00036957  20,976.46 
COALITION FOR HOMELESSNESS INTERVENTION 00003739  21,549.64 
COALITION FOR HOMELESSNESS INTERVENTION 00003740  64,150.96 
COALITION FOR HOMELESSNESS INTERVENTION 00003741  80,299.05 
DELL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC 00036928  698,101.04 
DELL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC 00036934  1,007,784.96 
DELL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC 00037067  476,739.84 
DELL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC 00037068  330,241.68 
DELL MARKETING LP 00035901  5,104.13 
DELL MARKETING LP 00036341  15,078.01 
DELL MARKETING LP 00037046  713,133.00 
DELL MARKETING LP 00037254  41,037.50 
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE NETWORK OF 00003650  3,601.50 
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE NETWORK OF 00003651  3,451.08 
DYNAMARK GRAPHICS GROUP INC 00028047  600.00 
EXTENDED STAY AMERICA 00003602  82,500.00 
EXTENDED STAY AMERICA 00003743  37,550.95 
EXTENDED STAY AMERICA 00003744  45,363.15 
EXTENDED STAY AMERICA 00003751  48,725.73 
EXTENDED STAY AMERICA 00003752  178.47 
EXTENDED STAY AMERICA 00003764  41,331.81 
EXTENDED STAY AMERICA 00003765  43,381.76 
EXTENDED STAY AMERICA 00003766  47,582.67 
F A WILHELM CONSTRUCTION CO INC 00037033  534,700.00 
FAEGRE DRINKER BIDDLE & REATH LLP 00003772  40,972.50 
FASTENAL CO 00027962  518.48 
FASTENAL CO 00027964  107.70 
FASTENAL CO 00027972  730.20 
FASTENAL CO 00027984  2,697.79 
FMG INDIANAPOLIS LLC 00037192  850.00 
FMG INDIANAPOLIS LLC 00037193  3,500.00 
GLEANERS FOOD BANK OF INDIANA INC 00003593  488,062.50 
GLEANERS FOOD BANK OF INDIANA INC 00003724  107,937.50 
GLEANERS FOOD BANK OF INDIANA INC 00003596  274,857.90 
GLEANERS FOOD BANK OF INDIANA INC 00003715  12,678.62 
GLEANERS FOOD BANK OF INDIANA INC 00003718  170,084.64 
GLEANERS FOOD BANK OF INDIANA INC 00003719  35,482.29 
GLEANERS FOOD BANK OF INDIANA INC 00003720  200,248.07 
GLEANERS FOOD BANK OF INDIANA INC 00003724  1,555,353.98 
GLEANERS FOOD BANK OF INDIANA INC 00003932  175,142.10 
GLEANERS FOOD BANK OF INDIANA INC 00003933  82,388.40 
HEALTH & HOSPITAL CORP OF MARION COUNTY 00003867  3,319,022.72 
HEALTH & HOSPITAL CORP OF MARION COUNTY 00003965  5,138,936.33 
HEALTH & HOSPITAL CORP OF MARION COUNTY 00003987  1,214,030.95 
HERD STRATEGIES LLC 00003763  8,240.00 
HOME DEPOT USA INC 00028045  719.40 
HOME DEPOT USA INC 00028048  199.92 
HOME DEPOT USA INC 00028049  10,935.00 
HOME DEPOT USA INC 00028054  569.82 
IMMIGRANT WELCOME CENTER INC 00003753  26,885.48 
INDIANA RELIEF LLC 00035899  5,000,000.00 
INDIANA RELIEF LLC 00036988  250,000.00 
INDIANA UNIVERSITY 00003526  346,338.29 
INDIANA UNIVERSITY 00003700  371,598.10 
INDIANA UNIVERSITY 00003868  989,100.00 
INDIANA UNIVERSITY 00003869  503,636.09 
INDIANAPOLIS-MARION CO BLDG AUTHORITY 00035950  20,790.18 
INDIANAPOLIS-MARION CO BLDG AUTHORITY 00035951  91,454.24 
INDIANAPOLIS-MARION CO BLDG AUTHORITY 00036364  6,760.79 
INDPLS LOCAL PUBL IMPROVEMENT BOND BANK 00037069  325.71 
INDPLS MARION CTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 00036499  130,121.09 
INDPLS MARION CTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 00036512  42,192.44 
INDPLS NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING PARTNERSHIP 00036722  2,000,000.00 
INDPLS PRIVATE INDUSTRY COUNCIL INC 00035593  1,500,000.00 
INDPLS PRIVATE INDUSTRY COUNCIL INC 00036269  1,144,000.00 
INDPLS PRIVATE INDUSTRY COUNCIL INC 00036642  2,060,000.00 
INDPLS PRIVATE INDUSTRY COUNCIL INC 00036943  202,915.44 
INDPLS PRIVATE INDUSTRY COUNCIL INC 00037135  499,903.00 
INDPLS PRIVATE INDUSTRY COUNCIL INC 00036276  1,050,000.00 
INDY PUBLIC SAFETY FOUNDATION 00003640  25,000.00 
INVOICE CLOUD INC 00037019  17,499.95 
JOHN H BONER COMMUNITY CENTER 00035510  7,500,000.00 
JOHN H BONER COMMUNITY CENTER 00035538  7,500,000.00 
JOHN H BONER COMMUNITY CENTER 00036169  7,500,000.00 
JOHN H BONER COMMUNITY CENTER 00036470  7,500,000.00 
JOHN H BONER COMMUNITY CENTER 00036995  2,000,000.00 
JOHN H BONER COMMUNITY CENTER 00037262  1,100,000.00 
JOHN H BONER COMMUNITY CENTER 00037702  750,000.00 
JP MORGAN CHASE BANK 00003856  7,500.00 
KEEP INDIANAPOLIS BEAUTIFUL INC 00036811  30,000.00 
KEEP INDIANAPOLIS BEAUTIFUL INC 00037134  20,554.45 
KNOWLEDGE SERVICES 00036365  4,932.00 
KNOWLEDGE SERVICES 00036665  2,740.00 
KNOWLEDGE SERVICES 00036666  98.48 
KNOWLEDGE SERVICES 00036951  5,480.00 
KNOWLEDGE SERVICES 00036953  10,412.00 
KNOWLEDGE SERVICES 00037045  98.48 
LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP 00036263  14,100.00 
LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP 00036264  11,571.74 
LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP 00036489  6,720.00 
LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP 00036818  33,454.26 
LESSONLY INC 00036885  194,251.42 
LESSONLY INC 00036963  202,999.99 
MANGAS GLOBAL SOLUTIONS INC 00003539  2,240.00 
MANGAS GLOBAL SOLUTIONS INC 00003540  3,520.00 
MANGAS GLOBAL SOLUTIONS INC 00003541  3,520.00 
MANGAS GLOBAL SOLUTIONS INC 00003623  22,008.57 
MANGAS GLOBAL SOLUTIONS INC 00003632  23,879.96 
MANGAS GLOBAL SOLUTIONS INC 00003820  24,397.12 
MANGAS GLOBAL SOLUTIONS INC 00003836  27,575.59 
MARION COUNTY 00036247  35,925.51 
MARION COUNTY 00036830  10,298.65 
MARION COUNTY 00036817  7,162,944.00 
MARION COUNTY 00036833  18,017.09 
MARION COUNTY 00036983  222,383.00 
MARION COUNTY 00037866  40,724.10 
MARION COUNTY 00036753  1,696,214.40 
MARION COUNTY 00036275  71,647.56 
MARION COUNTY 00036868  18,244.00 
MARION COUNTY 00036243  26,664.60 
MARION COUNTY 00036973  7,911.60 
MARION COUNTY CLERK 00036991  8,511.47 
MARION COUNTY CLERK 00037034  10,793.52 
MARION COUNTY CLERK 00037601  8,765.68 
MIDWEST FOOD BANK NP 00003491  41,376.89 
MIDWEST FOOD BANK NP 00003566  182,320.04 
MIDWEST FOOD BANK NP 00003567  65,448.89 
MIDWEST FOOD BANK NP 00003568  86,098.66 
MIDWEST FOOD BANK NP 00003569  114,828.56 
MIDWEST FOOD BANK NP 00003570  76,534.39 
MIDWEST FOOD BANK NP 00003604  69,535.49 
MIDWEST FOOD BANK NP 00003919  106,748.47 
MIDWEST FOOD BANK NP 00003920  721,608.61 
MUSICAL FAMILY TREE INC 00035787  125,000.00 
NEIGHBORHOOD  CHRISTIAN LEGAL CLINIC 00003647  31,007.26 
NEIGHBORHOOD  CHRISTIAN LEGAL CLINIC 00003732  4,183.12 
NEIGHBORHOOD  CHRISTIAN LEGAL CLINIC 00003996  110.00 
NEIGHBORHOOD SELF-EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE 00036816  150,000.00 
NEIGHBORHOOD SELF-EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE 00036970  72,102.00 
NEIGHBORHOOD SELF-EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE 00035342  5,000,000.00 
PARKER GRANT SOLUTIONS LLC 00035647  9,625.00 
PARKER GRANT SOLUTIONS LLC 00036057  7,437.50 
PARKER GRANT SOLUTIONS LLC 00036334  7,375.00 
PARKER GRANT SOLUTIONS LLC 00036414  7,500.00 
PARKER GRANT SOLUTIONS LLC 00036883  7,500.00 
PARKER GRANT SOLUTIONS LLC 00036993  7,187.50 
PARKER GRANT SOLUTIONS LLC 00037521  6,875.00 
PHVIF III INDIANAPOLIS LLC 00003674  221,760.00 
PHVIF III INDIANAPOLIS LLC 00003844  126,720.00 
PHVIF III INDIANAPOLIS LLC 00003845  126,720.00 
PHVIF III INDIANAPOLIS LLC 00003872  465,852.55 
PHVIF III INDIANAPOLIS LLC 00003901  4,789.32 
PHVIF III INDIANAPOLIS LLC 00003997  4,158.13 
PRESIDIO HOLDINGS INC 00036210  3,114,668.67 
PRESIDIO HOLDINGS INC 00036335  1,959.38 
PRESIDIO HOLDINGS INC 00036336  10,670.00 
PRESIDIO HOLDINGS INC 00036337  4,652.50 
PRESIDIO HOLDINGS INC 00036338  456,040.00 
PRESIDIO HOLDINGS INC 00036538  4,430.72 
PRESIDIO HOLDINGS INC 00036539  1,237.50 
PRESIDIO HOLDINGS INC 00036540  990.00 
PRESIDIO HOLDINGS INC 00037048  19,200.00 
PRESIDIO HOLDINGS INC 00037049  23,150.00 
PRESIDIO HOLDINGS INC 00037114  165.00 
PRESIDIO HOLDINGS INC 00037115  787.50 
PRESIDIO HOLDINGS INC 00037123  48,731.33 
PRESIDIO HOLDINGS INC 00037245  1,120,969.80 
PRESIDIO HOLDINGS INC 00037246  76,800.00 
PROMISE CREDIT SOLUTIONS LLC 00003703  5,195.93 
PROMISE CREDIT SOLUTIONS LLC 00003704  137,275.24 
PROMISE CREDIT SOLUTIONS LLC 00003705  7,528.83 
SHIEL SEXTON COMPANY INC 00035298  62,822.28 
SHIEL SEXTON COMPANY INC 00035576  54,169.03 
SHIEL SEXTON COMPANY INC 00035845  45,162.87 
SHIEL SEXTON COMPANY INC 00036134  40,899.61 
SHIEL SEXTON COMPANY INC 00036478  73,943.04 
SHIEL SEXTON COMPANY INC 00036800  25,334.33 
SHIEL SEXTON COMPANY INC 00037032  26,290.86 
SHIEL SEXTON COMPANY INC 00037522  35,684.87 
SIGNS DIRECT INC 00028046  3,530.35 
STEP-UP INC 00003767  493.00 
STEP-UP INC 00003768  15,733.60 
STEP-UP INC 00003769  11,246.07 
STEP-UP INC 00003770  10,986.54 
TOWN OF CLERMONT 00037021  20,739.00 
TOWN OF ROCKY RIPPLE 00036242  3,308.45 
TOWN OF ROCKY RIPPLE 00036972  5,934.55 
TOWN OF SPEEDWAY 00036832  172,844.00 
UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL INDIANA 00035733  2,000,000.00 
VISIT INDY INC 00035841  335,992.05 
VISIT INDY INC 00036137  388,426.58 
VISIT INDY INC 00036808  265,412.26 
WARREN TOWNSHIP 00037037  47,655.21 
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE 00036562  1,798.50 
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE 00036565  4,269.97 
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE 00037252  6,510.28 
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE 00037257  53,443.58 
WAYNE TOWNSHIP 00036482  131.96 
WAYNE TOWNSHIP 00036483  59,430.54 
WAYNE TOWNSHIP 00036485  800.00 
WAYNE TOWNSHIP 00036488  2,104.09 
WAYNE TOWNSHIP 00036553  1,339.54 
WAYNE TOWNSHIP 00036561  11,850.87 
WELL DONE MARKETING INC 00035903  19,999.67 
WELL DONE MARKETING INC 00035904  41,904.60 
WELL DONE MARKETING INC 00035905  4,998.81 
WELL DONE MARKETING INC 00036815  4,310.00 
WELL DONE MARKETING INC 00037075  7,387.50 
WELL DONE MARKETING INC 00003775  17,675.00 
WELL DONE MARKETING INC 00003776  142,447.64 
WHEELER MISSION MINISTIRES INC 00003742  148,065.00 
WHEELER MISSION MINISTIRES INC 00003762  333,700.58 
Information provided by city of Indianapolis

This is the first story in a series we’re calling “INside Story.” The rest of Richards stories looking into coronavirus relief bill spending will air each evening this week on News 8.