American Rescue Plan Act

The state has reimbursed the City for this loan.

Background: To address housing needs, Council granted an emergency ARPA loan to Human Solutions to save affordable housing provided by the Aldercrest Apartments. The funding agreement allows Human Solutions to purchase, renovate, and develop 68 permanently affordable housing units.

Awarded 80 small businesses grants to ease pandemic-related financial impacts on businesses. Fifty percent of the pool was reserved for state-certified women, minority, veteran and emerging businesses. 

Reimbursement for personal protection equipment and supplies for staff providing public services for the community during the pandemic. 

Awarded funding for nonprofit organizations to provide services to community members negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With a focus on individuals who may be especially susceptible.

2022 ARPA Community Assistance Grant recipients

• Birch Community Services – Freezer expansion to store and distribute food: $30,000
• Boxes of Love – Supporting Gresham’s most vulnerable infants/children in foster care system: $30,000
• Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce – Tourism/marketing Gresham: $30,000
• Gresham Historical Society – Gresham public history program: $30,000
• Kefi Care Programs – Day programs and care for developmental/intellectual disability clients: $30,000
• Latino Network – COVID-19 response wraparound support: $30,000
• Meals on Wheels People – Meals 4 Kids: $30,000
• MetroEast Community Media – Mobile media innovation lab and digital literacy: $30,000
• My Father’s House – “The Journey” job training program for people with low incomes: $30,000
• Rockwood CDC – Rockwood English Language Institute for immigrant communities: $20,000
• Slavic Community Center – Language-specific support for Slavic community in Gresham offering utility and cultural food assistance: $30,000
• WomensFirst Transition and Referral Center – Serving women and the BIPOC community who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19: $30,000 

To finish replacing all City computers, which are out of warranty and contributing to slow and inefficient operations.

Expanded the Homeless Services team; hired a limited-term housing resources coordinator to connect residents to resources; and a modest amount of administrative support for nonprofits with City contracts.

• Provided resources to Human Resources to better manage employee and labor relations.
• Resources to complete implementation of the City's core financial, human resources and community services system.
• Temporary outreach assistance related to the adopted Financial Road Map.

• Allocated $1.35 million to fill the projected gap between revenue and expenses for the City's fiscal year 2022/23 budget.
• Provided a one-time retention bonus in recognition of service to the community during the pandemic.
• Granted a modest 3% of APRA funds to cover administrative costs of distributing these funds, following reporting requirements, and administering grant programs.

Complete gap in Gresham-Fairview trail between Sandy Boulevard and Halsey Street, improving safety along a high-crash street. A Metro grant covers 85% of the cost; ARPA funds provided a small match required by the grant.

City Council approved:

• Hiring incentives for Police officers and six non-sworn Police positions to address the rise in violent crime across the region.
• Expanding the Police Mental Health/Services Coordination Team to add two clinicians.
• Equipment and training for Police civilian positions.
• Adding four firefighter-paramedic limited-term positions.
• Fire Department COVID-19 related overtime during the pandemic.
• Four Police Community Safety Specialists, trained civilian positions who can handle non-violent police calls, such as property crime reports, directing traffic and community relations.

City Council approved funds for:

• Updating the Pleasant Valley concept plan, originally adopted by Council in 2002, to better meet needs for residential housing and businesses.
• Developing a community center feasibility study, as a result of community engagement results from Imagine Gresham, to give Council more information to determine when or how to move forward with that idea.

More funding to meet a higher need for utility bill help while the community recovers from the pandemic.

To address public safety, Council granted ARPA funding to focus on the rise in violence our community has experienced the past year. Funds will primarily go to culturally specific community-based organizations that specialize in providing services for youth and young adults in Gresham. Includes support for more positive recreational and social engagement activities.