On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), also known as the Stimulus Package. This legislation included $575 billion in new federal spending and $212 billion in tax relief measures. The overall goals of the ARRA are to stimulate the faltering economy and create or retain 3.5 million jobs nationwide.
Aurora has been allocated approximately $19.7 million in ARRA funds to date. However, there is a common misperception that cities can use ARRA funds to cover virtually any city need. In fact, the ARRA included very specific grant opportunities that, for the most part, are distributed via existing federal programs and formulas. Most of the ARRA grants awarded to the city were allocated as formula (also known as “entitlement”) grants. The city of Aurora also received a limited number of competitive grants through the ARRA.
In 2009, the city of Aurora created an Economic Stimulus Task Force to identify and fully pursue the opportunities included in the ARRA, to determine the city’s eligibility for funding, and to serve as a clearinghouse for applications to the state or federal government. The task force, made up of key city staff, helps ensure that Aurora is well-positioned to apply for funding from the Stimulus Package and that the city is in full compliance with all federal regulations.
ARRA grant funds have been released and citizens will begin to see their federal grant dollars in action. For example, CDBG R funds have been put toward alley paving projects in Aurora and construction is underway on the I-225/Colfax interchange improvements.
Please check this website periodically, as the city of Aurora will update information when future grant funds are awarded and projects get underway.
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