Lexington is meeting federal deadlines on federal recovery funding decisions

Cities across the country have received funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. At Lexington City Hall. ARPA funding coordination has won praise from the mayor and Council members.

Federal COVID recovery funding to Lexington came to about $121 million. The City is meeting the federal deadline to have it all allocated by the end of December. Jennifer Wuorenmaa, out of the mayor’s office, leads the ARPA team.

“I think it’s really important to note that while I can’t report on any other cities or states, I can tell you that we have had ARPA impact in every single Council district in Lexington Kentucky,” said Wuorenmaa.

Wuorenmaa spelled out spending in many areas including housing, parks, and non-profits. Wuorenmaa cited the $17 million going for affordable housing which leveraged another $106 million. That equates to 696 affordable housing units.

And the special projects administrator told Council members to look for an equity study from a large university soon recognizing the code enforcement grant program.

Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton and Council members are giving high marks to the team administering federal COVID recovery dollars. To meet federal requirements the dollars must be allocated by the end of the year and spent by the end of 2026. Mayor Gorton said support to small businesses was critical to hold up the local economy.

“We helped those businesses get through that period of closure, so that they could remain healthy. That was kind of a small example I think of why we were able to stay strong,” said Gorton.

Gorton said it would have been a totally different picture in the Lexington community without the ARPA money.

** WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, and fact-based journalism. Monthly supporters are the top funding source for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation.