![The city has proposed six areas of investment for ARPA funding. [City of Akron]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ceca126/2147483647/strip/true/crop/990x556+0+0/resize/840x472!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fimages%2Fnews%2Fnpr%2F2021%2F10%2F1050389791_233158731.png)
Akron kicked off its community engagement efforts Thursday with an informational session on how the city is planning to use funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.
The city is partnering with consulting firm Guidehouse to ensure it follows all guidelines for the $145 million in federal funds. Community members met the Guidehouse team as well as submitted questions about the process.
The city wants to focus the money on six areas of investment. Akron Finance Department Deputy Director Shelley Goodrich says violence prevention is up first.
“We are planning on launching the violence prevention grant programs and the form that will be accompanying it for people who are interested in doing violence prevention programming. That will be being launched here in the very, very near future,” Goodrich said.
The other areas of investment include parks and public places, public utilities, access to health care and social services, housing and small business growth. The city is seeking community input on how to best use the funding.
“This is going to be a long process as the city of Akron has years to spend these ARPA dollars so the public input form is going to be open indefinitely," Goodrich said. "So, we will be pulling down the ideas frequently and evaluating them and contacting people for more information.”
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