Survey asks, “How would you spend $77 million on your city?”

The City of Richmond’s most recent engagement opportunity asks, “How would you spend $77 million on your city?” to help inform the city’s COVID-19 recovery spending plan, made possible by money from the federal government.

The American Rescue Plan Act, a law passed by the United States Congress, allocates $154 million in federal relief funding to the City of Richmond. The city will receive it in two payments of $77 million, a year apart.

This survey asks how Richmonders would like to see the first payment spent on their city. It will be open through August 9 at 11:59 p.m.

The survey is the first stage of community engagement around the American Rescue Plan funding. The results of this survey will assist the administration in creating the draft spending plan, which will then be available for public review and comment.

“This is a transformative investment,” said Mayor Stoney. “The American Rescue Plan Act has given us the chance to recover the right way. We need your input to make it happen.”

Important Details:

According to federal guidelines, the money can be spent on four key priorities: responding to the negative public health and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing premium pay to essential workers, investing in water, sewer or broadband infrastructure and making up for revenue the city lost during the pandemic.

The money can be spent through 2026.

Richmond Public Schools has also received funding from the federal government. The School Board is responsible for allocating that money.

Richmond City Council ultimately has the authority to allocate the city’s federal funds.

To learn more about how the American Rescue Plan Act will impact Richmond and view ongoing engagement and education opportunities, residents are encouraged to visit RVA.gov: https://www.rva.gov/arp

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