Call for Volunteers Issued to Help Grade & Interview Applicants for Historic Funding Opportunity
Contact: David Galin
ALBANY, NY – The City of Albany’s Pre-Application portal utilized to award $25 million for transformative, highly-impactful investments of American Rescue Plan Funds received by the City of Albany is open for submissions at www.AlbanyForAll.com. To give applicants more time to prepare their proposals, the first pre-applications will not be reviewed until at least March 1, 2022.
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan has posted a webinar to assist potential applicants in the pre-application process and answers any questions. Applicants may also direct questions to AlbanyForAll@albanyny.gov
Pre-Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning March 1, 2022. After a thorough review for compliance and impact, pre-applicants will receive feedback and then, if selected, be required to submit a full application. This process will ensure applicants effectively and efficiently utilize their time and resources as they seek American Rescue Plan funding while ensuring the City of Albany and those selected for funding remain in full compliance with American Rescue Plan Act requirements and all federal regulations.
Applications will be evaluated by a team of local leaders, including members of the City’s ARPA Leadership Team comprised of Mayor Kathy Sheehan, City Treasurer Darius Shahinfar, Common Council President Corey Ellis, Common Council Pro Tempore Kelly Kimbrough, Common Council Majority Leader Ginnie Farrell, Commissioner of Administrative Services Rachel McEneny, and Corporation Counsel Marisa Franchini, Esq.
Based on the input provided to the City of Albany COVID Recovery Task Force, $25 million will be available for funding under the American Recuse Plan, including:
- Supporting the Public Health Response - $4 million
- Education/Workforce/Human Services - $7 million
- Housing/Transportation/Community Revitalization - $8 million
- Small Business Support - $3 million
- Recovery of the Tourism, Travel, Arts and Hospitality - $3 million
Mayor Sheehan also issued a call for volunteers to help grade and interview applicants. Anyone interested in applying should visit www.AlbanyForAll.com to sign up.
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, “I want to encourage Albany’s businesses, not-for-profit organizations, residents, and City Departments to take advantage of the newly available webinars and submit your pre-application. The COVID Recovery Task Force has recommended using this funding to make highly impactful, transformative investments. I am looking forward to working closely with our residents, businesses, and community-based organizations to make sure these resources not only address the challenges encountered by our residents but ensure our city remains an Albany for all.”
Task Force Co-Chairs Michael Whalen and Jahkeen Hoke said, “We have a unique opportunity to finally level the playing field for members of underrepresented populations in our city and make a significant and long-lasting difference in their lives. Through smart, focused, and well-planned investments, we have the best chance of reaching and helping the highest number of city residents, and we encourage everyone to help identify potential opportunities for this historic funding.”
About the COVID Recovery Task Force:
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. 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 our residents, businesses, and community organizations thanks to the American Rescue Plan to restart Albany and build back better. The Mayor appointed Mike Whalen, Administrative Vice President of M&T Bank, and Jahkeen Hoke, Chief Executive Officer of Business For Good Foundation, as Co-Chairs of the City’s COVID Recovery Task Force.
The Task Force launched a robust engagement plan that included two public surveys garnering more than 1,000 responses, more than 60 direct meetings with community members and stakeholder groups, and 17 task force and working group meetings. The result is a 76-page report that provides a framework for recovery and strongly recommends funding a limited number of highly impactful programs that can produce profound results.
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