WHAT IS ARPA? President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act into law March 11, 2021.
may or may not be, this sends a mes- sage I cannot support,” McKee-Rodri- guez said. CityManager ErikWalsh said the city has been transparent in vetting ARPA funding requests, and that several City Council committees will spend the rest of 2022 getting feedback from stakeholders and defining spending goals and outcomes for city programs receiving the new ARPA money. The city said it must obligate all of its ARPA money by Dec. 31, 2024, and spend it all by Dec. 31, 2026, according to ARPA rules. “I look forward to working with the council during the policy direc- tion session that will set the wheels in motion to developing programs to allocate the funding over four years that will address the needs of our community,” Walsh said. District 8 Council Member Manny Pelaez applauded the $6.9millionallo- cation to help expand digital device and broadband technology access citywide, and the $15 million distribu- tion for Morgan’s Wonderland. Pelaez said the theme park plans to use its ARPA money to develop a pediatric care center, a multiassis- tance center for individuals with spe- cial needs, a 4D theatrical experience that simulates a rollercoaster ride for people of all abilities and make other park improvements. “While there is still more work to be done, the approval of this framework is a critical first step,” Pelaez said. District 10 Council Member Clayton Perry said he supports the allocations to Texas Biomed and Morgan’s Won- derland, saying both groups yield lasting regionwide impacts. However, Perry said the city should have com- mitted more ARPA money toward small businesses. “We should’ve made a stronger push to help small businesses,” Perry said. “I felt like we didn’t put enough While San Antonio plans to spend much of its COVID-19 funding on overarching community needs, area suburbs are allocating their ARPA money mainly to enhance city oper- ations through the purchase of sup- plies, public safety equipment and even city vehicles. ARPA funds were allocated based on each city’s population. From a total $276,033 allocation, Hill Country Village has, so far, received $138,016 and expects the rest this May, said Frank Morales, city money in there.” Smaller city funds
FEDERALGOVERNMENT
ARPA guarantees $84.6 billion in COVID-19 nancial relief to cities, counties and other local governments nationwide.
CITIESWITH POPULATIONS UNDER 50,000
CITIESWITHPOPULATIONSOF 50,000ORGREATER
The U.S. Treasury Department used a formula to disburse $65.1 billion to cities with populations of 50,000 or greater.
States have their own processes to distribute another $19.5 billion to cities with a population under 50,000.
San Antonio was awarded $326.9 million total in ARPA funds, receiving the money in two allotments in 2021 and 2022.
Smaller cities such as Hill Country Village, Hollywood Park and Shavano Park were awarded a combined total of $1,570,901.
All recipients of ARPA money must obligate their allocations by Dec. 31, 2024, and spend it all by Dec. 31, 2026.
SOURCE: U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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the city. Funds were also allocated to public health, emergency housing, city employee pay, youth and seniors, digital access and public art. City Council also approved $15 mil- lion to fund four projects at Morgan’s Wonderland, anortheast sidenonprofit theme park that accommodates guests of all ages and abilities, the memo said. Additionally, the council approved $10 million to help Texas Biomedical
“For the first time in our 80-year history, Texas Biomed sought sub- stantial, direct assistance from the city for our scientific mission—and we aligned our request with the goals of the ARPA,” TBRI President and CEO Dr. Larry Schlesinger said. But some residents and animal rights advocates said Texas Biomed should not receive ARPA or any pub- lic money, criticizing the nonprofit’s testing and research of animals. Critics also
Mayor RonNirenberg said SanAnto- nio must be transparent and detailed in implementing its ARPA spending plan over the next four years. “I assure you every bit of input is being listened to and accounted for and being treated seriously. Our pro- cess is not over. We still have a lot of work to do,” Nirenberg said. San Antonio’s ARPAplan According to a Feb. 3 city staffmem- orandum, San Antonio is set to receive a second disbursement of $163.45 mil- lion in state and local fiscal recovery funds this May. City officials are add- ing $35.95 million left over from an ini- tial disbursement of $163.45 million, received in 2021, and adding another $13 million-plus from the city’s exist- ing coronavirus recovery fund to pro- vide a total $212.5 million framework. The city memo said the ARPA spending framework is based upon resident responses to an online survey and feedback at eight town hall meet- ings as well as input from the city’s Small Business Advisory Commission. San Antonio’s plan calls for $26 million for mental health needs, $10 million for youth services, $13.8 mil- lion for infrastructure upgrades, and $33.5 million for small businesses and nonprofits hurt by the pandem- ic’s economic effects, according to
Research Insti- tute to support campus-wide infrastructure improvements, such as water, sewer, electri- cal and backup g e n e r a t i o n e q u i p m e n t , according to the memo. City staff said the research institute, Mor- gan’s Wonder-
“WE SHOULD’VE MADE A STRONGER PUSH TOHELP SMALL BUSINESSES. I FELT LIKE WEDIDN’TPUTENOUGH
questioned the city prioritizing TBRI for ARPA funding and voiced worry that neither TBRI, Morgan’s Wo n d e r l a n d nor Educare
MONEY IN THERE.” CLAYTON PERRY, DISTRICT 10 COUNCIL MEMBER
would undergo the same vet- ting process that smaller nonprofits will undergo. McKee-Rodriguez rejected the spending plan, saying he mainly dis- agreed with the amounts being allo- cated to those three nonprofits. “Three organizationswill not have to follow the process that is expected of other nonprofits and small businesses. As wonderful as these organizations
land and a third initiative, Educare San Antonio, were among 31 organizations that sent the city unsolicited ARPA funding requests. Representatives and supporters of Morgan’s Wonderland, TBRI and Edu- care said ARPA monies would allow their organizations to positively benefit their respective community missions.
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