City allocates second round of ARP funds

The city of Columbus has approved an appropriation for its second half of American Rescue Plan funding.

Columbus City Council has approved the second reading of an ordinance to appropriate $4,285,247.50 from the city’s American Recovery Act fund.

The ordinance states that the city would like to use the funds “for various projects that were discussed with the Columbus Common Council as part of the original American Recovery Act award in 2021.”

Columbus has been awarded a total of $8,570,495 in Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP).

According to local officials, the second half of this funding was awarded to the city on July 11, and the ordinance is for the appropriation of those funds.

City Director of Finance, Operations and Risk Jamie Brinegar said at a previous city meeting that officials saw a resolution in 2021 on how ARP funds would be spent. This included communication services related to the pandemic, grant expenditures, capital projects (as a form of revenue replacement) and miscellaneous services.

While the city has not yet approved its final 2023 budget, the preliminary version includes a section for American Rescue Plan funds, with $1.5 million budgeted for the year. According to Brinegar, this includes $250,000 for grant expenditures, $250,000 for capital needs for the Department of Public Works and $1 million in capital projects for the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department.

The grant expenditures line is related to the city’s partnership with Meridiam Infrastructure North American Corp., which has agreed to create a fiber-to-home network that officials say will reach at least 85% of Columbus.

Brinegar said that the $250,000 will be used to help cover the cost of connection for low-income residents.