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ARPA Insight Stories: Bridging Baltimore’s Digital Divide: Creating a Community-led Digital Inclusion Effort

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Mayor Brandon M. Scott launched the Digital Equity Fund through the BDE in April 2023. The initiative supports the creation of community-led digital inclusion plans and provides funding for communities to bring those plans to life. The Digital Equity Fund, managed by the Baltimore Civic Fund, was initially seeded with $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding. Grant Recipients of the Digital Equity Fund, which currently supports 22 Baltimore-based organizations with over 27 digital inclusion projects, have started work on their programs for closing Baltimore’s digital divide

Click here to read more about Baltimore's continuing work to create a community-led digital inclusion network using ARPA funding...

ARPA Insight Stories: Justice-Impacted Workforce Development - Greater Baltimore Urban League

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Justice-impacted job seekers faced unique challenges and disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Barriers to employment for justice-impacted individuals existed before the pandemic but were exacerbated in a post-pandemic job market. In August 2022, Mayor Brandon Scott awarded $1 million in ARPA funding to the Greater Baltimore Urban League (GBUL) through the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs for a workforce development program that provides counseling, case management, skills training, and certifications for Baltimore residents returning from incarceration. Click here to read more about Baltimore's continuing work on providing workforce development for justice-impacted individuals through ARPA-partner Greater Baltimore Urban League...

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ARPA Insight Stories: Confronting and Eliminating Barriers to Immigrant Success 

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During COVID, immigrant and refugee families had fewer resources to sustain themselves financially through the pandemic as many were ineligible for unemployment benefits and other federal aid such as the Payment Protection Plan and child tax credits—further exacerbating economic disparities within these communities. Even families that qualify struggle to navigate complicated program requirements, which are not often available in languages other than English. Public and private entities with bilingual capabilities could help residents with application forms and information, but these organizations are limited in reach due to funding. 

Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced the ARPA-funded Baltimore New American Access Coalition (BNAAC) to minimize the economic and social disparities immigrant and refugee families face.Click here to read more about Baltimore's continuing work to confront and eliminate barriers to immigrant success... 

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ARPA Insight Stories: Fighting Food Insecurity

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In May 2022, Mayor Scott announced an $11.1 million ARPA investment for the Department of Planning (DOP) to continue building an equitable and resilient food system. This funding supports five programs 1) Continuation of produce box distribution; 2) Increase online SNAP fruit and vegetable incentives; 3) Expansion of nutrition incentives at farmers’ markets; 4) MedStar Harbor Hospital’s Produce Prescription program; 5) Build the BIPOC local food supply chain by improving access to produce. Click here to learn more about Baltimore's fight against food insecurity...

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ARPA Insight Stories: Small Business Wage Subsidy Program

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In November 2021, Mayor Brandon M. Scott awarded the Mayor’s Office of Employment & Development $30 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to expand workforce development and job placements throughout the city. Read more about ARPA Insight Stories: Small Business Wage Subsidy Program...

 

ARPA Insight Stories: COVID-19 Childcare Stability Grant

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Introducing ARPA Insight Stories

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provided $641 million to the City of Baltimore in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency and its negative economic impacts. Mayor Brandon M. Scott established the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs to transparently and effectively administer this funding on behalf of the City. Since July 2021, Mayor Brandon M. Scott has allocated over $450 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. ARPA Insight Stories will share the impact of funded programs through this office. For more details regarding proposals, funded projects, and project progress visit our website.

 

ARPA Insight Stories: Lexington Market

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ARPA Impact Stories: Lexington Market

In March 2022, Mayor Brandon M. Scott allocated $4.9 million of Baltimore’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to complete the redevelopment of Lexington Market, for the 45+ diverse merchants who will call the new market home. The new merchant mix will increase minority-owned businesses and women-owned businesses. The market’s redevelopment marks a new era for the nearly 240-year-old institution.

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ARPA Townhall

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Join us on Feb. 8th for an ARPA Town Hall!

February ARPA Newsletter

In July 2021, Mayor Brandon Scott established the Mayor’s Office of Recovery programs to be responsible for administering all aspects of ARPA funding and regularly reporting to the federal government, as well as the public.

 

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