Providence’s $165.8M Windfall — Task Force Seeks Public Input on Rescue Plan Funding
Monday, September 20, 2021
A task force is seeking input from the public as to how Providence should use the $165.8 million in federal Rescue Plan funding.
The areas it is asking for opinions on spending include arts and culture; business and economic development; sustainability — “climate change mitigation, tree-planting, etc” — and racial equity.
Co-Chaired by Providence Foundation Vice President Angie Ankoma and Oscar Mejias, Founder & CEO of RI Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the “Providence Rescue Plan Task Force” includes nonprofit executives — as well as politicians.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“Over the next three years, Providence will receive $165.8 million dollars from the U.S. Treasury to make a once-in-a-generation, transformative investment in our City’s future,” writes the Task Force on their website. “Rescue Plan funds can be used to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency or its negative economic impacts.”
As the Task Force noted, the City allocated the first round of funding totaling $42 million on this past July — and not without controversy.
GoLocal was first to report, WaterFire — which had originally been slated to receive assistance -- was cut out of the initial round of funding.
The nonprofit then made the case stating they were a necessary economic engine to ultimately receive federal funds in the first found.
The two elected officials on the Task Force? Term-limited Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza — who announced this past week he will not run for Governor — and Providence City Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune — who is running for Mayor of Providence in 2022.
Task Force
The survey first asks if respondents are Providence residents — or not.
Then, it delves into overarching policy questions.
“Which of the following best describes how you think Providence’s share of the Rescue Plan money should be spent?” The Task Force asks, offering the following:
* It’s more important to use this money to protect against COVID-19 and to address the problems caused by COVID-19 even if it means spending less on existing issues that caused the pandemic to hit some communities harder than others.
* It’s more important to use this money to address the existing problems that made the pandemic more damaging to historically marginalized communities even if it means limiting what we spend on COVID-19-specific issues.
* This money should be used to both prevent and address problems caused by COVID-19 as well as to address the existing unequal conditions that contributed to the pandemic’s imbalanced impact.
The survey then asks the following:
"Suppose you had $100 to divide among different city service areas. Assuming that everything costs the same, how would you divide that $100 among the following service areas:"
* Arts, Culture, and Tourism (example PVD Fest, WaterFire, hotel support)
* Business and Economic Development (examples: helping businesses hurt by the pandemic, supporting new small businesses)(Required)
* City Services and Infrastructure (examples: broadband internet, repairing sewers, 311 top requests)(Required)
* Housing and Homelessness (examples: supporting shelters, strengthen fair housing, rental assistance, etc.)(Required)
* Racial Equity (examples: investing in Black, Indigenous, People of Color focused organizations, criminal justice reform, diversion programs)
* Sustainability (examples: climate change mitigation, tree-planting, etc.)(Required)
* Youth and Community Investments (examples: after-school programs, recreation center programming, etc.)(Required)
* Total: Must equal 100%
According to the Task Force, respondents can opt to be contacted for further follow-up questions.
