The City of Wheeling is receiving nearly $30 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to assist the community in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials are asking for the public’s opinion on how this money should be spent.

An online survey is available on the City’s website at https://forms.office.com/r/Ea5PZQF6Mj to gather input from citizens and organizations in the Friendly City.

“The amount we have received in American Rescue Plan Act funding is very close to the amount of City’s annual budget. These one-time expenditures have the potential to have a transformative impact in our City, and I am looking forward to receiving feedback from our community members so we can develop a strategic, effective, and equitable plan on spending this money,” said Mayor Glenn Elliott. “I encourage everyone to participate in the planning process.”

The funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which was signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021.   This legislation established the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund that included one-time aid directly allocated to states, counties and municipalities.

The U.S. Treasury Department has limited the use of the ARPA funds to the following areas including addressing municipal revenue losses, building water and sewer projects, enhancing broadband infrastructure, contributions to the tourism and hospitality industry, strategic and targeted assistance to small businesses, non-profits and households. It is a requirement that all funding decisions be obligated by December 31, 2024 and all funds spent by December 31, 2026. For more detailed information on eligible uses, visit https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/SLFRF-Final-Rule.pdf. Individuals and organizations should familiarize themselves with the guidelines before submitting suggestions/proposals.

City Council will hold a public work session at 5 p.m., Monday in Council Chambers to discuss the potential uses for the ARPA funding.