Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Recovery topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council directs $6,500 awards to 63 small businesses from ARPA recovery funds
Summary
Council directed staff to award $6,500 to each of the 63 timely applicants for the small business continuity grant program funded by ARPA/recovery dollars and to reserve a modest balance for a second round and downtown surveillance needs.
Council gave staff direction to distribute small-business continuity grants from the town's ARPA/recovery fund balance on Nov. 26.
Manager Lupe Martinez explained the program and noted approximately $670,000 in unobligated ARPA funds; staff proposed several award levels. Council settled on awarding $6,500 to each of the 63 applicants who met program criteria, a total that would use a majority of the available balance but leave a modest reserve to support a potential second round or other one-time public-safety investments downtown.
Staff said applications are under review by Karen Gonzales and that completed applicant packets will be processed for reimbursement-based payments once the final documentation is received. Councilors emphasized equity and fairness; the plan is to make awards broadly equal rather than tailor payments by individual loss estimates.
Council also directed staff to preserve about $100,000 in video-surveillance funding discussions for plaza/bank-building security while allowing room to expand awards if a limited second round of applicants is accepted. Staff will finalize award packets and return with payment requests.
