In March of 2021, a year into the COVID pandemic, Baltimore City received a chunk of $65.1 billion dollars in American Rescue Plan (ARPA) grants. Baltimore’s take was $641 million dollars, which Mayor Brandon Scott disbursed to city agencies, quasi-governmental organizations and non-profit organizations who are charged with improving housing, infrastructure, violence prevention and a host of other areas.

By June of this year, 45% of ARPA funds have been spent. However, $68 million of the $641 million allocated to various groups was rescinded because certain grantees were not able to meet the deadlines for implementing their programs.

Shamiah Kerney is the city's Chief Recovery Officer in the Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs and she joined Midday to discuss the latest updates with the ARPA fund distribution. 

(Photo by Bryan J.A. Kelly, Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs)