Residents wanting to know what the City of Jackson is doing with American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds can now track spending on the City website. By visiting
cityofjackson.org/arp, residents will see a full breakdown of how the City is using its $31,444,000 in federal COVID-19 relief funds.
In July, the City of Jackson was granted $31.4 million in ARP funds to use through 2024. These funds are available from the federal government to communities across the country to assist in recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic. $31.4 million was given to the City of Jackson based on population size.
Since securing the funds this summer, the Jackson City Council has used ARP dollars to fund eight projects, totaling $2,490,836 in allocations. Seven of the projects are improvements to City’s water treatment and wastewater systems. The biggest allocation so far was dedicating $1.5 million to a new Group Violence Intervention program, which aims to reduce gun violence in Jackson.
The website contains a running list of ARP allocations, including the project name and how much is being spent, along with start and completion dates. All spending plans for ARP funds are prepared by the City Manager. The plans are reviewed and voted on by the City Council before funds are disbursed.
With nearly $29 million left to spend, City Manager Jonathan Greene is proposing using the funds on more public improvements for Jackson. “City leaders have a unique opportunity to bolster the community using these funds,” Greene said. “It’s important that we spend this money responsibly. By visiting this new ARP website, residents will understand where the dollars are going and know we are being transparent with spending.”
Upcoming ARP allocations will be placed on City Council agendas when they are proposed, and placed on the website if they are approved by the council. The ARP website can be found under the “Our Services” tab of the City website or by searching cityofjackson.org/arp.