GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – When the White House announced the passing of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in January 2021, officials talked about how “economic crisis are devastating families across the country” and “lines at food banks” and “small businesses are closing” and Americans facing losing their homes.

But the latest spending of that money by municipalities across the country has been on routine projects with little or no ties to the pandemic but still approved by the federal government.

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The Grand Rapids’ City Commission provided another example of that when it approved spending the bulk of $7.6 million of ARPA money on two existing projects, helping build a public works building and completing a nature trail within the city limits.

Municipalities are acting this month to allocate what’s left of their federal pandemic money as it must be designated by Dec. 31.

“This funding will complement projects already under construction and allow the City to utilize this one-time funding rather than needing to leverage other city revenues or issue additional debt,” the city stated in a memo given to City Commission members. “These projects have been determined eligible for ARPA dollars.”

The city of Grand Rapids is moving its public works operations to another site on Scribner Avenue so it can vacate the current facility located at 201 Market Ave. The current site is targeted for redevelopment of riverfront property as part of a 31-acre project. The city will spend $4 million of ARPA funding on this project.

The city will spend $2.9 million on a new 12-foot wide multi-use trail on the east bank of a river from Leonard Street to Ann Street that will include street crossing, lighting, benches and signage.