Mayor Smiley Celebrates Full Obligation of $166M ARPA Funding

Mayor Brett P. Smiley today announced that the City of Providence has successfully obligated its $166 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. This significant achievement demonstrates the Smiley Administration's responsible fiscal management and ongoing commitment to making meaningful investments in programs and initiatives that will benefit the capital city for years to come.

"The full obligation of these funds underscores my Administration's commitment to utilizing every federal dollar available to us on impactful initiatives that build a stronger, more resilient Providence," said Mayor Brett Smiley. "Providence has avoided the dangerous fiscal cliff that other municipalities faced with these funds coming to an end and thoughtfully committed this funding towards high-impact programs and initiatives that address the urgent needs of our community, ensuring long-term and tangible benefits for our neighbors. These investments are laying the foundation for a brighter, more equitable future for all."

Among the major investments, Providence allocated $41 million to support critical housing affordability and homelessness intervention initiatives. This funding supported the development and preservation of affordable housing units across the city, with projects expected to preserve or create over 1,600 new affordable housing units. The City has also made significant investments in initiatives to better support Providence's unhoused population including support for emergency housing solutions and programs that support critical home repairs for income-eligible homeowners. With the launch of the Housing and Human Services Office, the City is streamlining housing assistance and improving access to critical services, further strengthening public health efforts and expanding access to quality affordable housing throughout Providence.

The City obligated $92 million in ARPA funds to revitalize public infrastructure, improve city services and invest in public spaces. From critical renovations to Providence's stormwater management infrastructure to prevent flooding, to community-driven revitalization projects to improve the vibrancy of Providence's Downtown open spaces, these funds were designated towards projects that would have a lasting impact on the community. In 2023, Mayor Smiley utilized $3 million of ARPA funding to make long overdue repairs to the Providence Hurricane Barrier, ensuring Providence remains resilient in the face of intense weather events and in December committed another $3 million to further protect the India Point Shoreline from flooding.

Last year, the Smiley Administration utilized $1 million in ARPA funding to replace every parking meter in the City with state-of-the-art units that offer more accessible payment options and invested $6 million towards critical sewer and street repairs. These projects inspected, cleaned and replaced outdated sewer lines, involving over 27,000 feet of sewer lines in neighborhoods from South Providence to Elmwood.

Underscoring Mayor Smiley's commitment to supporting after school learning opportunities and improving educational outcomes for Providence students, the City committed over $7 million towards programs and initiatives that support education, including summer jobs for Providence youth, early learning intervention and a nearly one-million-dollar investment in mentoring programs. In addition to these investments, the City used ARPA funding to begin historic renovations to Providence's Recreation Centers, committing over $3.5 million to upgrade 11 of Providence's Recreation Centers to ensure they are equipped for learning, development and community engagement.

Providence has committed $8 million to social equity initiatives, including over $7 million for the COVID-19 Equities program. This funding supports efforts to close the wealth and equity gap, in line with the Providence Municipal Reparations Commission's goals. Key programs include a resident scholarship fund for first-generation college students, an "Earn& Learn" workforce training program for chronically unemployed youth, a support fund for home-based daycare providers, and the funding of the PVD Equity Fund through the United Way.

A breakdown of the ARPA fund allocation can be found below:

Per federal law, these federal funds were to be obligated by the end of 2024 and must be spent by the end of 2026.