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Council transfers $1.05 million in ARPA interest to general fund for blight removals and nonprofit grants
Summary
Ordinance F2025-03 passed (8 ayes, 1 abstention) to appropriate $1,050,000 of interest earned on ARPA funds: $550,000 for a 'Fight Blight' demolition effort and $500,000 for 'Forward Together' grants to 18 nonprofits; one council member abstained due to a conflict of interest.
The Evansville Common Council on March 31 adopted Ordinance F2025-03, authorizing the transfer of $1,050,000 in interest earned on the city’s ARPA funds into the general fund for two initiatives: $550,000 for a Fight Blight demolition program and $500,000 for Forward Together grants to 18 nonprofit organizations.
City Controller Robert Gunter presented the ordinance and said the appropriation would use interest earned on the ARPA grant the city received in 2021 (the federal ARPA award). Gunter described the $550,000 allocation for Fight Blight as intended to triple the number of blighted structures demolished in 2025 and to prepare at least 150 properties for demolition by year’s end, subject to contractor availability. He said the $500,000 Forward Together grants had been awarded to 18 nonprofits from a pool of 79 applications requesting about $2.5 million; the mayor’s office and review panels prioritized proposals with sustainable community impact.
Mayor Stephanie Terry described Fight Blight as an effort to remove vacant and deteriorating properties that impede neighborhood revitalization and said the grants support programs such as housing, transportation, mental health, youth development and homeless services. She said grant agreements had been prepared and that staff would return to finalize paperwork once council approved the transfer.
Councilwoman Carruthers stated on the record that she would abstain because her organization (Aurora) had an awarded grant. The clerk recorded a roll call of 8 ayes and 1 abstention; the ordinance passed.
During public comment several residents asked for the published list of the 18 grant recipients and questioned use of ARPA interest for non-COVID programs. Mayor Terry and staff said the recipient list was posted on the city website (EvansvilleIN.gov) and that the funds used were interest earnings on ARPA; staff said interest earned on the ARPA fund in the city’s stewardship is not restricted the same as the original ARPA award’s program funds.
Council documents state the grant recipients were announced in January and grant agreements were ready to issue following council approval of the appropriation.
