Mayor Levar Stoney: A New Era for Richmond

This week, NewDEAL Leader Richmond, VA Mayor Levar Stoney delivered his state of the city address, highlighting his ongoing equity agenda and how new investments in housing, economic growth, and public safety initiatives will make a difference for his community. In addition, Mayor Stoney laid out new programs to: spur further economic growth, building on infrastructure improvements; support students, including a pilot program to help get high school graduates through community college; and boost public safety with plans to tackle gun violence along with police recruitment, retention and accountability. “Our past is no longer leading our present. Now, we are leading our future,” Stoney proclaimed. “A future that includes all Richmonders, no matter the color of their skin, whom they pray to or whom they love.” Read more about Mayor Stoney’s State of the City address here.

A New Era for Richmond

This week, NewDEAL Leader Richmond, VA Mayor Levar Stoney delivered his state of the city address, highlighting his ongoing equity agenda and how new investments in housing, economic growth, and public safety initiatives will make a difference for his community. In addition, Mayor Stoney laid out new programs to: spur further economic growth, building on infrastructure improvements; support students, including a pilot program to help get high school graduates through community college; and boost public safety with plans to tackle gun violence along with police recruitment, retention and accountability. “Our past is no longer leading our present. Now, we are leading our future,” Stoney proclaimed. “A future that includes all Richmonders, no matter the color of their skin, whom they pray to or whom they love.” Read more about Mayor Stoney’s State of the City address here.

Mayor Justin Bibb: Utilizing ARPA Funding for Housing Projects

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN – Ohio: Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb will deploy over $20 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for crucial housing projects. The city will invest $15 million to revitalize Cleveland’s southeast side through the creation of a revolving loan fund for home repairs, commercial corridor improvements, and large-scale redevelopments. Additionally, $5 million will go to Habitat for Humanity, enabling the non-profit to build 50 homes in areas with low homeownership. Those projects are key to a five-year $32.5 million investment to aid 400 households in the Greater Cleveland area with new home builds and repairs. 

Mayor Justin Bibb: Ohio Rescue and Transformation Plan

ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION: Ohio – Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb has unveiled a series of substantial investments aimed at revitalizing the city and expanding broadband access as part of his Rescue and Transformation Plan. Bibb announced a public-private collaboration expected to bring internet access to an estimated 29,000 homes over the next 18 months. He also recently committed $21 million of federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to a Waterfront Activation Fund, set to support nine projects along the city’s shores. In addition, he has pledged to allocate more of the city’s federal aid towards converting “thousands of acres” of brownfields into land ready for development.

Franklin County Board of Commissioners President John O’Grady announced $15.5 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding for affordable housing

HOUSING – Ohio: Franklin County Board of Commissioners President John O’Grady announced $15.5 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding for affordable housing in partnership with the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Healthy Homes program. The funds will leverage resources from other partners and support 33 new construction projects to create more than 200 new affordable housing units.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson launched the Homes MKE initiative

AFFORDABLE HOUSING – Wisconsin: Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson launched the Homes MKE initiative, which will utilize $15 million of American Rescue Plan funds to renovate city-owned vacant houses across Milwaukee. In collaboration with developers and non-profit organizations, the initiative aims to refurbish up to 150 vacant residential properties. This effort will foster the productive use of neglected properties, promote home ownership, and stronger communities. 

HOUSING – Pennsylvania: State Representative Jordan Harris – Whole-Home Repairs Program

HOUSING – Pennsylvania: State Representative Jordan Harris announced a $21 million grant to support the Whole-Home Repairs Program, an initiative that he had championed in the legislature to provide $50,000 in assistance to eligible homeowners for home repairs and weatherization. The program will allocate nearly $40 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to county agencies across Pennsylvania aimed at addressing habitability and safety concerns for low- to middle-income families.

thumbnail

HOUSING – Maryland: County Executive Angela Alsobrooks – Houses of God Initiative

HOUSING – Maryland: County Executive Angela Alsobrooks is increasing investment in the county’s Houses of God initiative, supporting seven houses of worship as they develop about 700 affordable housing units on their vacant properties. Funded by the county and Enterprise Community Partners, the initiative provides churches with technical expertise and resources, including architects, lawyers, and finance professionals, to facilitate project development. The county aims to involve 10 to 15 churches in the program, leveraging their land and expertise to create impactful partnerships and contribute to the county’s goal of constructing 26,000 new affordable housing units.

ARP: Key to Chester County’s Recovery is Building Affordable Housing

Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell invested nearly $7.4 million in American Rescue Plan funds in housing initiatives to build more affordable housing units. A critical piece to the county’s recovery is increasing affordable housing options for people to live and work in Chester County, leading to the funding of projects like the construction of the Willows at Valley Run Housing and Habitat for Humanity’s Coatesville rehabbing effort to provide over 250 affordable units over the next three years.

ARP: Everett Announced a Plan to Help Unhoused Residents Transition to Permanent Housing

Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin announced a plan to purchase and convert a hotel into a bridge housing program to help unhoused residents transition to permanent housing. Franklin has prioritized addressing housing needs in the community and will use $9 million of American Rescue Plan funds for the project, which will also provide wraparound services to ensure Everett supports its most vulnerable residents. “Providing shelter for those in need and significantly reducing public safety challenges related to chronic homelessness is a top priority for Everett residents. Snohomish County’s purchase of the Days Inn will provide shelter to some of the most vulnerable members of our community. This is a necessary action to making all our residents safer,” Franklin said. 

Subscribe

Recent News

Four Ideas Worth Stealing in 2024

Debbie Cox Bultan highlights our 2023 Ideas Challenge winners for the Well News
LEARN MORE

Snapshot: Five Reasons to Support the NewDEAL Forum

,
National issues are being solved at the state and local level. Here’s how you can...
LEARN MORE

2024 mission for state and local leaders: Protect democracy

NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan offers three strategies to protect voting rights.
LEARN MORE

Democratic Groups Embrace ‘Freedom’ for Their Policy Frameworks

Coverage from GOVERNING on our 2024 Freedom Agenda.
LEARN MORE