Contact: David Galin
ALBANY, NY – The City of Albany and the COVID Recovery Task Force is once again seeking input on the City’s use of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Funds. Feedback is essential to ensuring the discretionary ARP funds are used in the most impactful ways for our community. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey by Tuesday, July 20. The survey includes 17 questions estimated at under 15 minutes to complete.
The two surveys implemented as part of the COVID Recovery Task Force are intended to serve as an opportunity to get feedback on the needs and priorities identified by the Task Force and to validate, amend, and add to the Task Force’s preliminary findings.
On March 12, 2021, Mayor Sheehan announced the creation of a COVID Recovery Task Force to ensure the City of Albany equitably and strategically maximizes the resources available to its residents, businesses, and community organizations. More information on the Task Force.
Signed into law by President Biden in March 2021, the ARP has provided funding to states, local governments, and other entities to help replace lost revenues, cover COVID-related expenses, and reverse the economic impacts of this pandemic. The City of Albany was allocated approximately $80.7 million as part of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.
The 41 experts who make up the Task Force represent a wide cross-section of community, educational, healthcare and commercial sectors, and – in addition to these surveys - will draw from existing community strategies and their extensive experience to provide information on trends and impacts in their industries, while representing the populations they serve. As the Task Force’s work progresses, it is important for the City to obtain input from the public on local needs and priorities to ensure local needs are being well-represented. The City of Albany COVID Recovery Task Force will be working with their diverse constituent groups directly in addition to these two widespread public surveys to meet these needs. The final report produced will ultimately help guide the City of Albany and its Common Council on how best to allocate resources for recovery from the pandemic. Thank you in advance for making your voice heard in this important effort.
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