Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Arpa Reports topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council hears ARPA reports: Vanderburgh County 4-H rescue work and United Way VITA tax-prep update
Summary
ARPA recipients reported to the council: the 4-H Center described storm-damage roof repair and a $25,000 ARPA-funded safety intervention while seeking a $2.1M READY grant; United Way reported $25,000 in ARPA funds supported VITA tax-prep, yielding 635 county returns and $700,000+ returned locally.
Two ARPA-funded nonprofit programs provided updates to the Vanderburgh County Council on July 10.
Vanderburgh County 4-H Association representatives (Ray, Sarah Petrick and Tom Small) described using ARPA funds to address immediate safety and liability concerns after storm damage left a building red-tagged. Presenters said volunteers and contractors removed a deteriorated roof and that ARPA money (about $25,000) paid for emergency work to make the building safe while the association pursues a larger $2.1 million READY grant to fund comprehensive renovation. Tom Small outlined repair history and said the full multiuse concept would cost an estimated $2.1 million; the group has completed phase 1 of the READY grant application.
United Way of Southwestern Indiana CEO Amy Mangold gave a report on the VITA volunteer income tax assistance program supported by $25,000 in ARPA funds. Mangold said the program restored outreach and payroll capacity hindered by COVID-era funding declines. In 2024 the program operated four sites (three in Vanderburgh County) and prepared 635 returns in the county, returning more than $700,000 into Vanderburgh County and $850,000 overall. She said ARPA funding covered payroll for a coordinator, marketing and postage that helped increase tax-prep access for seniors, people with limited English and low-to-moderate income households.
Council members thanked both organizations and urged them to continue grant-seeking and community outreach. No additional county appropriations were made on either presentation at the meeting.
