HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022 ARPA Listening SessionsContact: Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications Director
Phone 952-833-9520 • jbennerotte@EdinaMN.gov • EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City Manager to Hold Listening Sessions on ARPA Funding
Edina, Minn., April 6, 2022 – Edina City Manager Scott Neal is asking community members to share ideas for how the second half of the City’s federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
dollars should be spent — money aimed at providing pandemic relief and boosting the local economy. Whether you live or work in the city, everyone is invited to provide input on how
they would like to see the money used.
Neal, along with Community Engagement Manager MJ Lamon, Race & Equity Manager Heidi Lee and consultant Annie Coyle, will lead three community meetings on the topic:
Noon-1 p.m. Tuesday, April 26 (Virtual)
4:30-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 27 (Hughes Pavilion, Centennial Lakes Park)
7-8 p.m. Thursday, April 28 (Virtual)
There are many eligible uses of the funding. The U.S. Treasury Department requires recipients use the dollars to meet local needs within the following four categories:
Replace lost public sector revenue, using this funding to provide government services up to the amount of revenue lost due to the pandemic
Respond to the far-reaching public health and negative economic impacts of the pandemic by supporting the health of communities and helping households, small businesses, impacted industries,
nonprofits and the public sector recover from economic impacts
Provide premium pay for essential workers, offering additional support to those who have and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical sectors
Invest in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure, making necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, support vital wastewater and stormwater infrastructure and
expand affordable access to broadband internet
If you can’t attend a meeting, you can submit your ideas online at BetterTogetherEdina.org/arpa through April 30. All ideas will be given equal consideration, whether submitted during
a meeting or online.
After the submission period has ended, City staff will prepare an initial recommendation. The current goal is to bring it forward for discussion at the May 17 City Council meeting.
To register for a community meeting or submit an idea for official consideration, visit BetterTogetherEdina.org/arpa. Additional information is also available on the website.
-30-