Cuyahoga County Asks Residents How To Spend Federal COVID-19 Relief Money

Cuyahoga County is asking for residents’ proposals for how to best use nearly $240 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

The $1.9 trillion federal relief act includes about $65 billion in direct aid for every county in America.

“I want you to be an active part of this process,” County Executive Armond Budish said during a Wednesday press conference. “I want you to be creative.”

The county is expected to receive $239 million, Budish said, and the proposals themselves will determine how much of that money will go toward residents’ ideas for how to spend it.  Your ideas can be submitted on the county’s website.

“We cannot create lasting change and enhance people’s quality of life if we don’t hear the voices of our residents,” he said.

Cities have also received separate ARPA funds, including Cleveland, which got more than $500 million and where local grassroots groups have issued a similar call for citizen spending plans.

Previous federal government funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act – known as the CARES Act – went to providing personal protective equipment to health care workers, helping small businesses and restaurants, and keeping renters facing eviction in their homes.

“These funds helped us make a tremendous impact, but there’s still much more to do,” Budish said.

Possible uses for the new round of funds, according to the county website, include paying essential workers more money, spurring rehiring initiatives, supporting COVID-19 mitigation efforts and expanding broadband connectivity in Cuyahoga County.

“The county’s digital divide is one of the worst of the entire country,” Budish said. “Nineteen percent of households in the county have no internet access. This is not something we can tolerate.”

A map of Cuyahoga County's broadband access. [Cuyahoga County]

The digital divide became even more pronounced during the pandemic, when students and employees needed technology and internet access to go to school and work.

Starting Wednesday, the county is accepting additional proposals from anyone – locally or nationally – on how to better connect Cuyahoga County residents to the internet.

“We need something long-term, something that’s sustainable,” Budish said. “Projects could include new products and pricing or new service options with discounted rates. It could also be investments into infrastructure that allow for lower pricing.”

The county’s digital inclusion request for proposals (RFP) will be open until Sept. 6.

In addition to asking for proposals for internet connectivity and ARPA funds, Budish said the county is addressing inequity in business contracts. 

Cuyahoga County’s Office of Procurement and Diversity is posting a contracting forecast, which Budish hopes will help minority- and women-owned businesses better navigate the process as well as offer the county a more diverse range of vendors.

“This enhances competition by helping vendors learn about potential contracting opportunities earlier in the process,” he said.