November 9th, 2021
Residents asked for input on priorities for $144 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Monroe County Executive Adam Bello invites the community to the second of four Bring Monroe Back public input sessions. This session will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 10, in the gymnasium at Joseph C. Wilson Magnet High School located at 501 Genesee St. in Rochester. Gathering public input is the first phase of the Bring Monroe Back effort to invest $144 million in Federal America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds delivered to Monroe County by Senators Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Joseph Morelle.
“I encourage all Monroe County residents to attend one of these Bring Monroe Back forums or fill out our online survey to make sure their voice is heard,” said Monroe County Executive Adam Bello. “Investing $144 million in ARPA funds is a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity or our community and we want the public’s help prioritizing where those dollars should go.”
Bring Monroe Back coincides with Plan Forward, the county’s development of a new comprehensive plan. Taken together, the plans will be a blueprint for Monroe County’s immediate recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and our long-term strategic direction. Plan Forward will use data gathered from public outreach related to ARPA and build upon it to steer the county toward a more equitable and sustainable future.
Bring Monroe Back builds on a dozen community and government-led plans, assessments and reports that have already engaged our citizens, business owners and experts in their field. Using those reports, six focus areas were identified to invest ARPA funds: Public Safety, Public Health and Wellness, Economic Recovery, Workforce Development, Infrastructure Improvements and Sustainability.
A final in-person input session will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1 at Grand View Lodge in Powder Mills Park, 49 Woolston Road.
Additionally, a virtual session runs from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8 via Zoom. Participants should email [email protected] for a link.
Community members may also participate by filling out a survey available at www.monroecounty.gov/bringmonroeback. Community groups and organizations may request hard copies to distribute to their members via [email protected]. Additionally, hard copies of the surveys will be available in public locations throughout the county.
Community organizations can submit direct written testimony using our Community Organization Statement Form, available here: https://www.monroecounty.gov/files/planning/ARPA%20Community%20Statement.pdf.
