ARPA Program Will Provide Major Boosts to Gary Residents, Businesses
Gary Mayor Jerome A. Prince today proposed a wide-ranging plan to use federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to transform Gary’s neighborhoods and business prospects following the historic COVID-19 pandemic.
The City of Gary recently received the first of two approximately $40 million installments from the federal government thanks to the work of President Joe Biden and U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan (D-1st). The funds will help Gary support its residents and businesses, and spur more economic development, Mayor Prince said.
“We mourn the friends and neighbors we lost, but we also know these funds will make a big difference for our City going forward,” he said. “We were very careful to comply with ARPA rules in planning how to use these funds, and we look forward to working closely with the Gary Common Council on this plan as we all recover from the pandemic and develop high-quality programming for the entire City.”
In comments before the Greater Gary Chamber of Commerce Monday afternoon, Mayor Prince will lay out some of the details of the ARPA funds plan, including:
• More than $10 million to recover lost City revenue in 2020;
• Up to $5 million in premium pay, or bonuses, to essential city workers for their service
during the pandemic;
• The remaining $25 million to support a variety of programs, including investments in
infrastructure, the Guaranteed Income Validation Effort, or GIVE, program, and the THRIVE Gary! Youth violence prevention initiative.
Mayor Prince also said his team will work closely with the Common Council this Friday to shape the final plan. The Council must approve of the appropriations.
Also, with the help of the ARPA funds, the City can then use its own, non-federal funds to invest in new equipment for the police, fire and general services departments, Mayor Prince said.
