Boston Council Committee Advances Final $7 Million ARPA Tranche Before Year-End Deadline

BOSTON -- October 7, 2024, Boston's City Council COVID-19 Recovery Committee advanced a plan to allocate the city's final $7 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds, with a federal obligation deadline of December 31, 2024. Committee Chair Sharon Durkan said she plans to bring docket 1385 to the full council before October 31, with the money split three ways: $3 million to the Acquisition Opportunity Program to preserve affordable rental units, $3 million to the Boston Housing Authority's First Home down-payment assistance program, and $1 million to extend the Office of Economic Opportunity's Space Grant program for small businesses. Chief Financial Officer Ashley Graffenberger told the panel that city-wide ARPA obligations still outstanding have fallen from roughly $145 million to $119 million in just one month, and said the administration is "very confident" all funds will be obligated on time. BHA Administrator Kenzie Bach said the First Home program has already exhausted its original $2 million allocation after helping more than 50 families purchase market-rate homes, compared with roughly 24 families in the 12 years before the program launched, and projected the new $3 million would reach approximately 60 more households. Public commenter Talia White, board president of Rozzy Bound Co-op in Roslindale, testified that her cooperative bookstore was among ten Space Grant finalists awarded conditional notices of $100,000 each, but was told by city staff the funds had run out pending the council vote.