Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Arpa Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Victoria council approves deadline extensions for three ARPA community grants
Summary
The Victoria City Council approved extensions to expenditure deadlines for three community grant beneficiaries funded with ARPA dollars: the South Texas Zoological Society (to Sept. 30, 2024), Billy T./Ability Catan Recovery Outreach (to Dec. 31, 2024) and the Salvation Army (to March 31, 2025).
Victoria — The Victoria City Council on June 18 approved amendments extending the expenditure deadlines for three community grants funded from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) awards.
City staff told the council the city received $14,508,296 in ARPA funds and allocated $1,250,000 to three community beneficiaries. "We awarded them as beneficiaries and not as subrecipients," city staff said, noting the extensions do not change the city's federal spending obligations.
The council approved a 90‑day extension for the South Texas Zoological Society (the Texas Zoo) to Sept. 30, 2024; a 180‑day extension to Dec. 31, 2024, for the Billy T. Catan / Ability Catan Recovery Outreach Center (Hope Ranch project); and a 210‑day extension to March 31, 2025, for the Salvation Army's Learning Enrichment Center operations. Staff reported spending to date as of March 31: about $159,000 of $500,000 for the Texas Zoo; $86,588.20 for Billy T./Ability Catan; and $131,905.75 for the Salvation Army.
City staff said the Texas Zoo requested more time to complete a hurricane and flood mitigation procurement process; the Billy T./Ability Catan Recovery Outreach Center expects construction to begin in mid‑October and anticipates using remaining funds by Dec. 31; and the Salvation Army said demand for its operations may require hiring additional staff to stretch the award.
Council voted to approve each extension after separate motions. The votes were recorded as "aye" with no opposition.
What’s next: The extensions set new local spending deadlines for the three grantees; the federal ARPA obligation and award status were described by staff as unchanged. Staff identified Bill Baker (executive director, Texas Zoo), Elma Saenz (chief operating officer, Ability Catan Recovery Outreach Center) and Captain Jones (Salvation Army) as available to answer questions about their respective projects.
