State and Local 

Fiscal Recovery 

Funds 2021 Report

City of Toledo, Ohio Recovery Plan
City of Toledo, Ohio 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 1

Table of Contents

General Overview..........................................................................................................2

Executive Summary..............................................................................................................................................2

Uses of Funds...........................................................................................................................................................3

Promoting Equitable Outcomes...................................................................................................................3

Community Engagement.................................................................................................................................4

Labor Practices.......................................................................................................................................................5

Use of Evidence......................................................................................................................................................6

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category......................................................................................6

Project Inventory ........................................................................................................... 7
City of Toledo, Ohio 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 2

General Overview

Executive Summary 

By May 2022, the City of Toledo (“Toledo”) will receive $180.9 million from the federal 

government through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

ARPA is an opportunity to respond to many unmet needs of Toledo residents, 

including low and moderate income Toledoans and Toledoans of color who have 

been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

As a recipient of ARPA funds allocated for state and local governments, Toledo has 

the opportunity to award and expend its funds in ways that will best meet the 

needs of its residents and businesses, provided these uses fall under one of four 

categories outlined in the American Rescue Plan Act law. 

Statutory Eligible Uses

• Responding to COVID-19 public health emergency or its negative economic 

impacts.

• Providing premium pay to workers performing essential work during the 

COVID-19 public health emergency.

• The provision of government services – to the extent of the reduction in 

revenue experienced due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

• Making necessary investments in water, sewer or broadband infrastructure.

Through collaborative efforts between Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz and Toledo City 

Council, Toledo is developing a Toledo Recovery Plan that focuses on five 

investment areas to ensure that the needs of Toledo’s constituents are met with the 

ARPA funding. 

Toledo Recovery Plan Investment Areas

• Youth, Recreation, and Parks

• Safe and Livable Neighborhoods

• Job Creation and Economic Development

• Green and Healthy Housing

• Avoiding Cuts to City Services
City of Toledo, Ohio 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 3

Toledo’s Recovery Plan is in early developmental stages. A community engagement 

process is currently underway and the results of this engagement will inform and 

help to craft the final Toledo Recovery Plan. Toledo’s Recovery Plan will align the 

statutory eligible uses with the five investment areas and community input to 

provide a comprehensive spending strategy for the ARPA funds. This Recovery Plan 

will be in development during fall 2021 with a final plan introduced prior to the end 

of the year.

Uses of Funds

The expenditure of Toledo’s ARPA funds is not expected to begin until the Toledo 

Recovery Plan is completed, announced to the constituents of Toledo, and adopted 

in ordinance by Toledo City Council. In light of this process, of the $180.9 million 

awarded to Toledo, only $1.0 million has been appropriated to date for programs

and projects through the budget process and $0 has been expended. Please see 

the “Project Inventory” section for a summary of initially proposed projects.

When evaluating these programs and projects, and all others that are proposed for 

the Toledo Recovery Plan, Toledo will be using “SMART Analysis” to ensure oversight 

and promote a strong and equitable recovery in Toledo. Toledo’s commitment to 

“SMART Analysis” was approved by Toledo City Council on June 9, 

2021 with adoption of Resolution 299-21.

Elements of SMART Analysis

• Sustainable – every program or project meets Toledo’s current needs without 

compromising the economic ability of future generations to meet their needs

• Meet the US Treasury guidelines for every program or project

• Accountable – every program or project is justified for its use of ARPA funds

• Return on Investment – every program or project has specific and 

measurable results that are quantitative and/or qualitative and that Toledo

has sought collaboration to minimize cost and maximize outcomes

• Transparent – the who, what, how, when and where of each dollar spent is 

clear

Promoting Equitable Outcomes

Toledo is committed to reporting on equitable outcomes once the Toledo Recovery 

Plan is completed and projects are underway. As appropriate, qualitative and 
City of Toledo, Ohio 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 4

quantitative metrics will be provided to report on progress towards achieving 

equitable outcomes for those projects that aim to address the negative economic 

impacts of the pandemic and provide services to disproportionately impacted 

communities. 

Community Engagement 

Toledo launched a community engagement process in July to solicit input and 

gather feedback from residents and businesses on how to direct Toledo’s $180.9 

million ARPA funding. This process engages the community through several means 

in order to capture feedback from a diverse group of constituents. All information 

regarding the Toledo Recovery Plan is available at toledo.oh.gov/recovery. 

All input and comments received through this process will be compiled, reviewed,

and used to drive decision-making for programs and projects to include in the 

Toledo Recovery Plan. The initial phase of community engagement will conclude at 

the end of August and the final proposed Toledo Recovery Plan is expected to be 

introduced to the community prior to the end of the year.

Community Input 

Sessions

Five in-person meetings 

and one virtual meeting 

have been held to 

discuss the elements of 

the Toledo Recovery 

Plan and hear from 

residents and 

businesses.

Online Community 

Survey

A survey was launched 

on Toledo’s website to 

ask constituents to 

rank elements of the 

Toledo Recovery Plan 

and provide additional 

spending ideas. Hard 

copies also available.

Toledo Recovery Plan 

Email

There is an option on 

Toledo’s website to 

provide additional 

thoughts on the Toledo 

Recovery by leaving an 

email message. 
City of Toledo, Ohio 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 5

Labor Practices 

Toledo’s existing policies and procedures surrounding procurement support strong 

labor standards and aim to provide efficient delivery of programs, projects and 

services. The following practices will continue to be employed as Toledo spends 

ARPA funds approved in the Toledo Recovery Plan.

Competitive Procurement

Toledo uses competitive bid processes to secure the lowest and best prices while 

creating equal opportunities for vendor partners to supply goods and services.

Project Labor Agreements

Construction projects over $100,000 require a project labor agreement approved by 

the Northwest Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council.

Living Wage Requirements

Toledo and certain employers doing business with Toledo are required to pay 

employees working on city-funded contracts at rates at least 110%-130% above the 

Federal Poverty Level. These rates are updated annually according to the Federal 

Poverty Guidelines. 

Prevailing Wage Requirements

Prevailing wages must be paid for any “public improvement” with total costs at or 

above $10,000. Public improvement includes all buildings, roads, streets, alleys, 

sewers, ditches, sewage disposal plants, water works, and all other structures or 

works constructed by a public authority or by any person pursuant to a contract 

with a public authority.

Local Preference

Local preference is used to compare and evaluate bids, adding weight to bids 

submitted by businesses whose principal location is in (1) Toledo, (2) Lucas County or 

(3) Northwest Ohio.

MBE/WBE Certification

Toledo has a strategic Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women Business 

Enterprise (WBE) certification process to encourage those businesses owned and 

controlled by minorities or women to become certified.
City of Toledo, Ohio 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 6

Use of Evidence

Toledo is committed to reporting on performance metrics for those projects 

included in the Toledo Recovery Plan that use evidence-based interventions. This 

evidence information will be detailed where applicable in the project inventory 

section of future reports. 

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category

Toledo has not expended any funds through August 31, 2021.
City of Toledo, Ohio 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 7

Project Inventory

Through August 31, 2021 ARPA funds have been appropriated for five projects. These

budgeted projects will be considered and evaluated for final inclusion in the Toledo 

Recovery Plan and if approved, performance metrics will be identified and outlined.

Although budgeted, no expenditure of these funds has occurred. 

Clean Toledo Blight Program $695,700

To provide services for disproportionately impacted communities through the 

reduction of blight in neighborhoods located in qualified census tracts. 

Expenditure Category

Services to Disproportionately Impacted Communities, Social Determinants of Health, Other 

Toledo Racial Equity Inclusion Council $200,000

To support community strategies to address the root causes of poverty and 

building wealth within communities of color by focusing on social justice, education, 

workforce development, health and well-being, economic development, housing,

and youth.

Expenditure Category

Negative Economic Impacts, Other Economic Support

Vision Zero $60,000

To increase community safety on Toledo’s streets by promoting safe, healthy and 

equitable mobility though sustainable strategies that prioritize equity, community 

engagement and data analysis.

Expenditure Category

Services to Disproportionately Impacted Communities, Social Determinants of Health, Other
City of Toledo, Ohio 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 8

Minority Business Assistance Center $20,000

To support the growth and sustainability of small, minority-owned and 

disadvantaged businesses to contribute to job creation and economic growth.

Expenditure Category

Negative Economic Impacts, Small Business Economic Assistance

Personnel Protective Equipment $71,750

To support safe emergency medical service operations for members of the Toledo 

Fire and Rescue department.

Expenditure Category

Public Health, Personal Protective Equipment