City Of St. Louis: Mayor Tishaura O. Jones Enacts $135 Million In American Rescue Plan Act Funding, Delivers Aid To St. Louis Families

Press release from the City of St. Louis:

August 16, 2021

The package will invest more than $135 million into helping support and stabilize neighborhoods in anticipation of more federal funds down the line.

Today, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, joined by faith, labor and elected leaders, announced that she will sign the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) direct relief package passed out of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen. The total package will invest more than $135 million into families and neighborhoods across St. Louis, helping support and stabilize neighborhoods in anticipation of more federal funds down the line.

“This is a public safety plan, a public health plan, and an economic relief plan all in one. We have to boost our vaccination rates, help keep families in their homes and address the root causes of crime,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “I’m grateful to Congresswoman Cori Bush, Comptroller Darlene Green, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, and the public for their work in making this a reality. My administration’s top priority is now getting this urgent relief, including $500 direct payments, to thousands of St. Louis families. But this is just the beginning; we still have hundreds of millions of federal dollars in the bank to transform and revitalize St. Louis, and I will work to make sure those investments benefit our entire city.”

The final package was informed by more than 2,500 comments from the public and multiple community feedback sessions. Highlights of the relief package include:

With nearly $500 million in ARPA funds total heading to St. Louis, as well as likely federal infrastructure support, Mayor Jones also laid out her vision for spending the next round of funds to reverse historic wrongs by investing in disinvested neighborhoods throughout North St. Louis and in pockets of South City. These priorities, which will help make sure residents can meet basic needs and benefit equally from development, include affordable housing, infrastructure improvements, economic empowerment with small business loans and technical assistance, workforce development, neighborhood beautification and revitalization, and more.

Mayor Jones also used power established in the City Charter to line item veto $33 million in allocations from the final package that violated US Treasury rules regulating the spending of ARPA funds. The City’s CARES Act and ARPA auditor, City Counselor, and longtime federal lobbyist warned that such spending outside of federal regulations could result in St. Louis being forced to pay millions back to the federal government. As fiduciary stewards of St. Louis, the Mayor and Comptroller Darlene Green previously stated their firm commitment to not spend federal funds at risk of a clawback from the US Treasury. Mayor Jones’ multiple efforts to work with bill sponsors to bring the legislation in line with federal rules were rebuffed every time.

This press release was produced by the City of St. Louis. The views expressed here are the author’s own.