The Greensboro City Council began discussing how it would spend $59.4 million in American Rescue Plan money in April 2021 and that discussion is ongoing.
In April 2021, when the City Council began the discussion, there appeared to be support for spending the federal largess on a “transformational project.”
At that meeting several councilmembers said that they would prefer to fund a major project and not spend the money in dribs and drabs.
However, from the Thursday, Aug. 11 work session presentation, it appears the plans have shifted and much of the $59.4 million will be allocated to nonprofits and spent on city maintenance projects like replacing roofs, which no one would consider transformational.
The presentation lists 16 proposed allocations to nonprofits and four proposed city maintenance projects.
The proposed allocations to nonprofits are: $1.5 million for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro Inc.; $800,000 for Community Housing Solutions of Guilford County; $1 million for Greensboro Innovation District; $56,000 for Sanctuary House; $460,000 for Reading Connections Inc.; $1 million for YMCA of Greensboro; $50,000 for The Black Suit Initiative; $53,000 for Level Up Parenting; $73,000 for W.D. Mohammed Islamic Center; $139,000 for Guilford Child Development; $50,000 for I Am A Queen; $133,000 for Positive Direction for Youth & Families Inc.; $100,000 for Interactive Resource Center; $150,000 for Launch Greensboro/Greensboro Chamber of Commerce; $165,000 for Gerard’s Green Garden; and $25,000 for Glenwood Together/In Faith.
The proposed city facility maintenance projects are: $1.2 million for a new roof for the Central Library; $375,000 for a new heating and air conditioning system for the Central Library; $3.5 million for a new roof and maintenance repairs for the Greensboro Cultural Center; and $1.1 million for Parks and Recreation for improvements to aquatic centers.
The ARP money has to be allocated by December 2024 and what is not spent by December 2026 has to be returned to the federal government.
Dribs and drabs plus some future votes.
Once again the city council will take tax payer monies and donate to charities. It is not the job of the coty council which charities taxpayers want to contribute to, it should be a personal choice of the tax payer… not the city council. Why not take this money and apply it to the bloated city budget and reduce the tax rate to the tax payers of Greensboro. Also in the last election many residents of non-profit retirement facilities were allowed to vote on bonds that they do not pay any taxes towards. It is time the state legislature stepped in and passed some laws to prevent the waste of tax payer money and stop non profit facilities from voting for bonds.
What is “I am a Queen”? Are we talking about Elizabeth II, or something else?
Anyone know?
Google it.
It’s a feel good thing for black females as the black suit is a feel good thing for young black men Looks like vote buying at its best
That’s what you took from the article? Sure, it’s drivel and poorly written but that’s why you comprehended from your reading? Not sure where you went to school but you schools get a refund
Wait, so they allocated the money prior to the change in council line up? So Matheny got no say in it?
What about using a little of that money to do something about the growing homeless problem downtown?
How about fund the police department to help reduce crime?
Just now read the allocation list for the non-profits in Greensboro. A little late, I know.
If the W.D Mohammed Islamic Center ( CHURCH ) can get $73,000 then my church should get the same, right ? However there is something known as ” separation of church & state ” that prevents that.
The rules on funding religious activities with federal money states that the money has to be used for ” non-religious ” social services that the church provides. What social services does this church provide that allows them to receive government funds, I wonder ?
I have googled the Islamic Center & it doesn’t give information on this. It’s mission statement is strictly religious though. Does anyone know ?
My church could use some funding too.
glenwood together/in faith ? $25k for WHAT? FAITH? faith needs $$ nowadays. i’ve known that faith requires $$ for over fifty years – that’s why i got rid of $$ ‘faith’ years ago.