Detroit Programs $500M of $827M ARPA Funds for Community Development

The city of Detroit announced it has completed programming and begun implementation for programs representing $530 million of its $827 million awarded under the federal America Rescue Plan Act.
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Back view business woman raising hand for asking speaker for question and answer concept in meeting room for seminar
The city of Detroit has programmed $530 million of its $827 million ARPA funds for job training and more. // Stock Photo

The city of Detroit announced it has completed programming and begun implementation for programs representing $530 million of its $827 million awarded under the federal America Rescue Plan Act.

To provide full transparency on its programs and progress, the city has launched an ARPA website, detroitmi.gov/ARPA.

“We started with the most comprehensive community engagement process of any city to develop our spending priorities and now we are going to be the most transparent city in terms of how we are spending this money and the status of each initiative,” says Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. “There is tremendous opportunity being created to benefit Detroiters in a number of ways and this website can be a roadmap to find it.”

Officials from departments across city government have designed and approved programs, completed compliance reviews, and implemented more than 80 individual initiatives from 15 spending categories approved by the City Council in late June 2021.  The city has until December 31, 2024, to obligate its ARPA funds.

Programs already being implemented include the Skills for Life job training program ($75 million), Renew Detroit Home Repair program ($30 million), a basement flooding protection program ($2.4 million), Community Health Corps funding ($15 million), and funding toward the renovation of historic Lee Plaza to be used as affordable housing for Detroiters ($7 million).

Dozens of other initiatives for neighborhood beautification and investment, expanding internet access for residents, enhancing public safety, and more are currently going through final review prior to implementation.

Below is a partial list of forthcoming programs and the expected start:

  • Neighborhood beautification grants (Spring 2022)
  • Blight remediation (Spring 2022)
  • ACE Arts Alley initiative (Spring 2022) (community engagement Spring/Summer 2022)
  • Learn to Earn expansion (Spring 2022)
  • Recreation centers (Spring/Summer 2022)
  • Detroit Fire Department Ladder 30 Facility (Spring 2022)
  • Joe Louis greenway (Spring)
  • Neighborhood signs (Fall 2022)
  • Police Department Shot Spotter Expansion (Summer 2022)

The new website is designed to give up-to-date information on all things ARPA including detailed spending in the 15 appropriated categories, ARPA job opportunities, featured ARPA programs, and the unique stories about the impact on Detroiters and neighborhoods.

Also, the Detroit ARPA website has a #TakePart component where residents can find information about community meetings, job opportunities, and can sign-up for special alerts. To expand opportunities for Detroit businesses, the site shares supplier details including approved and pending ARPA contracts, and information on how to register as a supplier along with a portal of the latest bid opportunities with the City. Also added are important documents such as the quarterly report to the U.S. Treasury.

In June 2021, the Detroit City Council appropriated the $826.7 million in ARPA funds in collaboration with the Duggan administration and in conjunction with the priorities of the community to be used across the 15 categories. Some of the appropriated areas are neighborhood beautification, parks, recreation and culture, public safety, intergenerational poverty, digital divide, and small business.