Manchester is working against a fast-approaching deadline to allocate, and obligate, all $43.2 million of its federal COVID-19 relief funds by the end of this year — or lose the money.
In 2021, Manchester was handed $43.2 million from the American Rescue Plan (ARPA).
The one-time grant from the federal government came with two deadlines — all of the money must be obligated by the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026.
Whatever money remains when those deadlines pass will be returned to the U.S. Department of Treasury.
The ARPA page on the city’s website shows as of this week 57.7% (or $24.9 million) of the $43.7 million has been spent.
To be considered officially “obligated,” the money must be formally assigned to a project.
Manchester residents were asked how they wanted funds to be used, and their responses were compiled into categories of eligible programs.
In recent weeks, Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais worked with city staff to develop a list of recommendations to reallocate or obligate the balance of ARPA funds available — a sum of $1.78 million.
The list appears on the agenda for the aldermanic Committee on Community Improvement for the Nov. 19 meeting at City Hall at 6:15 p.m.
The recommendations include funding to keep programs at the Engagement Center running through March 31, hiring bonuses for the Manchester Police Department, and funding for a program to assist property owners with the elimination of lead-based paint hazards.
“These recommendations address many of the topics I hear about frequently at my town halls, during discussions with individual aldermen, our Board of Mayor and Aldermen meetings, and in conversations with residents all over the city,” Ruais wrote in a memo to committee members.
Among the recommendations is a request from Ruais to transfer $306,096.93 from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AFHT) to continue the operations at the Beech Street Shelter and Engagement Center from Dec. 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025, coupled with $100,947.79 requested ARPA dollars.
If approved, Ruais said AFHT would total $777,682.07, with the cost of operating the two programs for the time frame discussed pegged at $407,044.72.
Ruais said since June the Engagement Center has achieved the following:
• Housing placements: 33 guests housed.
• Vital documents acquired: 30 guests obtained IDs, birth certificates or social security cards.
• Employment opportunities: 10 guests gained employment.
• Detox and recovery services: Eight guests entered and completed programs.
• Bus passes provided: 27 guests received bus passes for work and appointments.
• Total provider-guest connections: 710.
The Beech Street Shelter and Engagement Center is where the city will house its winter warming station this year.
“It is imperative we have these funds for fatality prevention for this vulnerable population during the coldest months,” Ruais writes.
According to city Fire Chief Ryan Cashin, the warming station will accommodate approximately 40 people on a nightly basis, the same capacity as 1269 Cafe.
East Coast Evolution Leadership will manage the station, with staff at the site increased at night. “As in years past, the fire department will supplement the staff at the engagement center during extreme weather events,” Cashin writes in a memo to aldermen.
The warming station will be operational from 7 p.m to 7 a.m., Dec. 1 through Feb. 28, with the option of remaining operational through March if necessary.
Police Chief Allen Aldenberg submitted a proposal to use $100,000 of ARPA funds to introduce a $10,000 hiring bonus to attract certified police officers, addressing a decline in certified hires in 2024 in the city compared to previous years.
“Competing departments offer significant bonuses and higher pay, making recruitment more challenging for our department,” Aldenberg writes in a memo to aldermen.
The bonus would be paid in three increments: $2,500 at the start, $2,500 after field training, and $5,000 upon completion of a probationary period.
“This initiative aims to keep our department competitive and improve recruitment of certified officers, who are faster to train and deploy,” Aldenberg writes.
The proposal would cover 10 officers or up to Dec. 31, 2025, whichever comes first. If the city isn’t able to hire 10 officers by Dec. 31, 2025, any left over money from the $100,000 would be used towards recruiting and marketing efforts to fill police officer vacancies, Aldenberg writes.
The Planning and Community Development — Community Improvement Program division is requesting $50,000 in ARPA funds for the city’s Lead Hazard Reduction Grant program, which runs until December 2026 and helps make homes lead safe and supporting families whose children have been affected by lead poisoning.
The goal of the current program is to inspect 220 housing units and make 200 units lead safe, officials said.
