Photo Gallery AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT ALLOCATION Mayor Warren’s Strategic Equity and Recovery Plan Mayor Lovely A. Warren provided her Strategic Equity and Recovery Plan (SERP) to City Council for their consideration on September 29, 2021 to spend the $202.1 million in American Rescue Plan funds provided by the federal government. Mayor Warren’s plan seeks to ensure that Rochester’s recovery focuses on the wellbeing of families and improving neighborhoods to create a more equitable and resilient Rochester. The SERP is organized around the vision detailed in Rochester 2034, the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The plan includes a Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot; “Greenlines” formerly redlined areas with a “Buy the Block” Program; Provides job training, grants for small businesses and entrepreneurs; expands ROC the Riverway to reconnect the community to nature and much more. Read the full plan here and then provide your feedback below. About ARPA “These funds represent an historic opportunity to shape Rochester’s recovery in a manner that delivers the equity our citizens deserve. That is why we need the input of our residents to help us maximize the benefit of these funds and turn opportunity into reality. With the insight of our residents and employers, I am confident we can put these dollars to work for all of our citizens and create Rochester’s first new era for everyone.” -- Mayor Lovely A. Warren The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) signed into law on March 11, 2021, provides $350 billion in emergency funding for state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to remedy this disparity between rising costs and falling revenues. The City of Rochester will receive $202 million, creating a historic opportunity to shape Rochester’s recovery and bring true equity to our city, along with more jobs, safer more vibrant neighborhoods, and greater educational opportunities. Rochester's Allocation The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) includes $65 billion for cities, towns and villages. Rochester’s allocation will be disbursed over two years, and the first $101 million payment arrived in the middle of May. Mayor Lovely A. Warren sought the community’s input to determine the best way to invest the City's allocation from the American Rescue Plan Act, President Joseph Biden’s pandemic stimulus program. Citizen Input to Maximize Opportunity The City engaged the community for direct input on the use of ARPA funds to transform Rochester’s recovery from the pandemic, and will use this input to develop a blueprint for allocation of funds over the next 3 to 5 years. Three opportunities were presented to provide input: Online Survey - took place May 27 to June 28, 2021 Telephone Town Hall - took place June 17, 2021 Community Input Session - took place on June 3, 2021. View the video of that session below: Click here or on the image below to learn more and view the full Community Input Report. Initial Federal Guidance The U.S. Department of Treasury listed four objectives for the funds: Support urgent COVID-19 response efforts to continue to decrease spread of the virus and bring the pandemic under control Replace lost revenue for eligible state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to strengthen support for vital public services and help retain jobs Support immediate economic stabilization for households and businesses Address systemic public health and economic challenges that have contributed to the unequal impact of the pandemic Recognizing the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on disadvantaged communities, the Treasury's Interim Final Rule identifies services that are eligible when provided in a Qualified Census Tract (QCT) or to individuals and families living in QCTs. A QCT is any census tract in which at least 50% of households have an income less than 60% of the Area Median Gross Income (AMGI), The City of Rochester's QCTs can be found in the accompanying map, click here >> Learn more To learn more about the American Rescue Plan Act, click here>> To learn how the Rochester City School District is investing its ARPA funds, click here>> Additional Resources -U.S. Department of Treasury American Rescue Plan - Interim Final Guidance State, Local, & Fiscal Recovery Funds - Fact Sheet State, Local, & Fiscal Recovery Funds - Quick Reference Guide SEE ALSO Budget and Finance MAY WE SUGGEST Bureau of Treasury Property Tax Billing Budget Documents Surplus Sales and Auctions Finance Department State of the City 2020-21 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Purchasing Law Learn How to Participate in New York's Cannabis Industry The Budget Process and Timeline CONTACT SOCIAL MapCallEmail Home DirectoryTerms of Use Fair Housing Equal OpportunityTitle VI NondiscriminationCity Employees' Gateway ©City of Rochester