Denver has submitted the city’s required American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) annual report to the U.S. Treasury. The report demonstrates that over the last two years, Denver has met the work of building a better tomorrow as officials faced challenges and created opportunities in this pandemic recovery for Denver residents and businesses across the city. Denver’s ARPA funds represent a critical component of the city’s comprehensive, multi-year financial strategy to leverage both federal and local funds for recovery. These funds include deployment of existing bond funds for infrastructure and a voter-passed general obligation bond program for citywide infrastructure improvements as an economic stimulant for local businesses.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock
To serve the needs of those most impacted by the pandemic, the city employed an existing and proven framework to evaluate ARPA funding proposals through an equity lens. With feedback from more than 12,000 residents about an equitable, sustainable future, Mayor Michael B. Hancock’s plan continues to help the city thrive, allocating $154 million under multiple categories, with another $154 million in federal ARPA funds expected to arrive this year.
“With support from the American Rescue Plan Act, we continue to forge new opportunities and have come back stronger than we were before the pandemic,” Mayor Hancock said. “our goal with this funding is to support a strong recovery for everyone in our community.”
The report shows conclusively that Denver’s quick action at allocating ARPA funds was possible, due to a comprehensive community engagement effort completed prior to the arrival of the funds that identified priorities for investment from residents, city agencies, City Council, and community leaders. Crucial work on housing, homelessness, economic security, arts and culture support, small business supports, safety, physical and mental health, food security, digital support and programming for children encompass some of the many items the Administration developed and implemented with feedback from our community.