CLEVELAND, Ohio – County Councilman Dale Miller has become the first among his colleagues to invite proposals on how to spend his share of $66 million in controversial discretionary funds.
The funds, carved out of the county’s COVID-19 stimulus money for each council district, have been dubbed “slush funds” by critics, who say they give council members too much personal sway over how money is spent.
District 2, which includes Lakewood, Brook Park, Cleveland Ward 17, and most of Cleveland Ward 16, is now accepting proposals for how to spend $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, according to a County Council news release. Each district is receiving a total of $6 million in discretionary funds. Miller’s remaining $3 million will be allocated later, according to the release.
Council announced the “miscellaneous community grants” last month, as a means of bringing the ARPA funds’ transformational capabilities to the districts. Council President Pernel Jones promised transparency and a robust vetting of all project proposals. However, before any public vetting could be done, Councilwoman Cheryl Stephens verbally committed at least $120,000 of her share to help support the Cedar Road repaving project in University Heights and South Euclid.
Since ARPA is one-time money, proposals should focus on one-time projects rather than creating a recurring expense, according to Thursday news release. Applicants can request only up to $1.5 million each.
Of the $3 million in possible spending, $2.5 million must be for projects located in District 2 or that will predominantly help District 2, according to the news release. The remaining $500,000 will be used on county-wide projects that have “significant impact” for District 2.
Applicants must fill out a form that asks for a description of the project, which county district they live in, the number of people who would benefit, whether it would create jobs, whether it would serve low-income people, whether it would provide environmental benefits and a plan to sustain the project once ARPA dollars are used.
“Proposals beneficial in the areas of community development and place-making, economic development, environment, social services or cultural infrastructure, and technical innovation are encouraged,” according to the request for proposal. “Projects for which other substantial funding streams are available, such as road and bridge projects, are less likely to be considered.”
ARPA, which will fund the chosen project or projects, has been used to fund broadband, sewer, police surveillance, building construction and repair, removing lead paint, improving services to the homeless, supporting small businesses and more in Northeast Ohio.
Proposals will be subject to a three-step process before approval. In the first step, projects will be scored based on total impact, applicant capability, proposal feasibility, project readiness and cost, which is expected to be completed July 29. Then, each project will be assigned a recommended amount of funds before going before Cuyahoga County Council for approval. Projects could begin receiving final approval as soon as late 2022, according to the news release.
The deadline to submit proposals is Friday, June 10th at 4 pm.
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Cuyahoga County Councilman Dale Miller’s district is first to accept applications for controversial ARPA spen - cleveland.com
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