Pueblo City Council approves $1.3 million in ARPA projects for local nonprofits

Pueblo City Council approved nearly $1.3 million from the city’s American Rescue Plan Act funds to be used for 10 different projects aimed at helping the local economy recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The projects range from $8,000 for a vegetable seed distribution to $360,000 to pair law enforcement with behavioral health specialists on certain calls.  

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Pueblo was allocated $36.7 million in ARPA money earlier this year. That money will come in two payments with half already in the city’s coffers and the other half expected next year. The city opened a public portal for project suggestions, which were then evaluated by citizen task forces dedicated to various areas of interest. 

Those task forces recommended projects to the mayor, who then recommended them to city council for a vote of approval on Sept. 13. 

“We want to get this money in the community and get these projects started as quickly as possible,” Mayor Nick Gradisar said. “We don’t want to sit back and wait until we’ve got all $18 million spent before we send any of it out.” 

Pueblo has funded three other ARPA projects so far totaling a little more than $1 million: a summer reading incentive program, a day labor program at the Pueblo Rescue Mission and a vaccine incentive for city employees.  

City council approved all 10 nonprofit projects, all unanimous except for funding for a program through Colorado Legal Services that will aid low-income renters at risk of eviction. Council members Lori Winner and Bob Schilling and City Council President Larry Atencio voted against that program funding. Schilling is a realtor with RE/MAX and Winner is a landlord.  

“Resources are already available,” Schilling said about his opposition. “This is a make-work thing.” 

The 10 projects approved by city council are: 

• $8,000 for Pueblo Food Project’s “All Pueblo Grows Seed” program, which will distribute vegetable seed kits that participants can grow at home 
• $20,000 for Pueblo Food Project’s community garden program 
• $23,725 for Pueblo Cooperative Care Center to upgrade its computer, cellphone and security systems 
• $28,050 to Rocky Mountain Service, Employment and Redevelopment to purchase a refrigerated mobile trailer to deliver food to Pueblo residents in need 
• $36,690 to Pueblo Cooperative Care Center for its “Power-Up Kidz Sacks” program to provide 6,000 healthy snack kits over 12 months 
• $150,000 to Pueblo Community College for its “Children First” program to expand child care options 
• $169,844 to Pueblo Cooperative Care Center for its nutrition on wheels program for Pueblo youth
• $210,000 to Pueblo Soup Kitchen to meet increased demand because of the pandemic 
• $280,694 to Colorado Legal Services to employ a staff attorney for three years to help low-income tenants connect with resources to prevent eviction 
• $360,000 to Health Solutions to employ five mental health professionals and one case manager to provide co-responder services to Pueblo Police Department 

The online portal for APRA project suggestions is open until Oct. 1 at www.pueblo.us or via email at ARPA2021@pueblo.us.

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Chieftain reporter Sara Wilson can be reached via email at SWilson@gannett.com or on Twitter @WilsonSaraJane.