Alliance City Council approves ARPA funds, makes Juneteenth paid holiday

ALLIANCE ‒ The city has given a financial boost to service projects using the last of its federal COVID-19 dollars.

A $420,000 grant for Alliance Area Habitat for Humanity and $100,000 for the Greater Alliance Foundation were pre-approved Monday night. The grants come from Alliance City Council's American Rescue Plan Act funds.

The city has to spend its remaining balance of ARPA funds by year's end, or move it into a reserve fund.

Law Director Caitlyn Weyer and Safety-Service Mike Dreger told council members they would double check to see if both grants are legal use of the ARPA dollars before they are allocated. If not, the money can be moved into a reserve fund.

Weyer said she has not yet found any legal opinion that would rule out using the grant money for the organizations.

A third use of the ARPA funds − $500,000 for renovations at Alliance Area Senior Center − also was approved by council. This project has been verified as a legal use of the funds because the center played a role in COVID operations.

Councilman Ed Lohnes, chairman of council's Finance Committee, supported all three projects.

Niki Mcilvain, executive director of the Alliance Area Habitat for Humanity, said the $420,000 grant would replenish home build funds, which were diverted to start a critical home repair program.

"It took a lot for us to get here. My original proposal (for the grant) was the critical home repair program, and it didn't qualify, so we're just switching it up, " Mcilvain explained.

Greater Alliance Foundation plans to use the $100,000 grant to replace an old roof at The Commons on South Linden Avenue. The center is a one-stop operation for low income individuals and families for clothes, groceries and other needs.

In other business, council members:

• Made Juneteenth a paid legal holiday for all city employees.

• Heard an update from the Ohio State Auditor's Office on the city's fiscal watch status, which remains in effect − for now. A final decision on the status will be announced later this month.

• Heard from supporters and opponents of a rental registration proposal.

Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or [email protected]. On X (formerly Twitter): @bduerREP.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Alliance City Council approves COVID-19 funds