DETROIT – The city of Detroit is receiving hundreds of millions of dollars from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and Detroiters are being asked to share their thoughts on how the money should be spent.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is holding a virtual meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 25 to discuss potential spending priorities for the city, and residents are being asked to attend and provide input on the proposed ideas. Watch the virtual Zoom meeting live in the video player below (click here if the player doesn’t appear).
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Those interested in participating in the meeting and sharing their input can join the meeting by clicking here, or dial into the meeting by calling 313-626-6799 at 7 p.m. The Zoom meeting I.D. is 827 5298 2663.
Detroit will receive at least $400 million in funding through the ARPA in an effort to help the city invest in key areas to meet residents’ needs, especially regarding COVID-related issues, over the next few years.
Officials say the city will focus on spending the funds within the following priority areas:
- Fighting intergenerational poverty
- Neighborhood investment
- Investment in parks & recreation, cultural assets
- Public safety
- Closing the digital divide
- Small business support
Mayor Duggan is expected to present specific spending opportunities within each of the priority spending areas during Tuesday’s meeting.
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Following Tuesday’s public meeting, the city is planning to host 25 additional community meetings over 25 days in an effort to receive input on spending priorities from as many Detroit residents as possible. Dates and times for these meetings have not yet been announced, but will soon be posted on the city’s website right here, officials said.
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