Anchorage Assembly Hosts ARPA Investment Work Sessions
The Anchorage Assembly said today that it's hosting a series of work sessions with organizations and individuals who received American Rescue Plan (ARPA) federal funding assistance through Assembly appropriations in 2021.
The Anchorage Assembly said today that it's hosting a series of work sessions with organizations and individuals who received American Rescue Plan (ARPA) federal funding assistance through Assembly appropriations in 2021. The sessions, according to an announcement from the Assembly, will help members learn more about how the funds were used, how residents of the municipality were impacted by the funds, and how to expand on successful projects with the next round of funds that are coming this spring.
The first of several sessions was held at a March 4 rountable discussion hosted by the non-profit organization Visit Anchorage. Tourism industry leaders reported on their ARPA grants and gave forecasts for the summer 2022 season at the work session which can be viewed at this link.
At that session, Angie Oberlitner of Alaska Step on Guides shared, “I was so relieved to get the money. It paid for past debt, for both the licensing and insurance. It allowed us to get back on our feet to actually be able to serve people in 2021. It sustained us through that period of time where we were still in question—were people going to come?”
Three more ARPA work sessions are scheduled for this month and an additional session on workforce development may be added in the future. All work sessions are open to the public, both in person and on the Anchorage Assembly's YouTube channel.
- March 10, 2-3:30pm: Session #2 Food Security, Housing and Urgent Needs, at Food Bank of Alaska, 2192 Viking Dr. A tour of the new cold storage facility, funded by federal relief funds, will be followed by presentations from Food Bank of Alaska, thread, Camp Fire Alaska, Hillcrest Children’s Center and Covenant House Alaska.
- March 18, 11:30-12:30pm: Session #3 Economic Development, at City Hall, Suite 155. Presentations from Restaurant Rescue Meals Program, Anchorage Community Land Trust Set Up Shop, and the Business Boutique.
- March 22, 1-2pm (tentative): Session #4 Families and Quality of Life, at City Hall, Suite 155. Presentations by the Alaska Native Heritage Center, individual artists and cultural organizations.
* Tomorrow's Food Bank of Alaska tour will be in-person only, but a livestream of the worksession will be available on the YouTube channel.
