Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the ARPA Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
NeighborWorks outlines ARPA-funded facade, homebuyer and aging-in-place programs and remaining balances
Summary
NeighborWorks told Scranton council that ARPA funds supported about $115,000 in commercial facades, roughly $549,000 for first-time homebuyer assistance (most directed to down-payment/closing-cost aid), and $200,000 for an aging-in-place home repair program with about $59,000 remaining committed to projects.
NeighborWorks officials told the Scranton council that several neighborhood initiatives were supported with American Rescue Plan Act funds, including commercial facades, first-time homebuyer assistance and targeted repairs for older adults.
"That was an ARPA funded program that was funded to the tune of about $115,000," said Shane Powers describing the commercial facade work in North and West Scranton. Powers said approximately $110,000 of that went directly to community projects and that other organizations supported additional facade work elsewhere.
On the homebuyer program, Powers said NeighborWorks administered about $549,000 in ARPA dollars to the program. He said most of those funds were used for down-payment and closing-cost assistance for first-time buyers; the presenter cited a specific figure for the portion used for direct assistance during the presentation and staff later provided a clarified figure for the record (see clarifying details).
Powers said NeighborWorks also ran an aging-in-place home-repair program funded at about $200,000; most of that funding was spent and the agency had roughly $59,000 in projects already identified and committed.
Council members asked whether leftover ARPA dollars would be used in the next program cycle; Powers confirmed the remaining funds identified for home repair would be applied to projects already committed. Presenters emphasized that the city’s investment helped the agency leverage other funders, including banks participating in Pennsylvania’s Neighborhood Assistance Program and local philanthropic partners.
"We are able to fully apply [city funds] to the projects that we're completing out in the community and the other funds that we're leveraging through the Neighborhood Assistance Program give us the added flexibility to be able to administer the program," Powers said.
Presenters also reported they had completed roughly 20 facade projects across West and North Scranton and that no unallocated ARPA facade funds remained.
