CHICAGO — The City of Chicago is proud to announce its strategic plan for its remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, part of the landmark $350 billion stimulus package enacted by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021. This funding represents one of the largest economic stimulus packages in U.S. history, aimed at providing comprehensive relief to individuals, businesses, and governments impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s strategic plan for the ARPA funds the City received includes investments of over $576 million across six policy pillars for community initiatives.  

Mayor Johnson has authorized adjustments to spending plans as well as additional City resources to ensure the successful administration of ARPA-funded programs. Similarly to the launch of his recently announced “Cut the Tape” initiative, Mayor Johnson’s strategic plan for ARPA funds makes government work better for all Chicagoans by ensuring they feel the real impact of these programs. The allocations authorized by Mayor Johnson are focused on six Policy Pillars: Youth and Economy, Community Safety, Mental Health and Wellness, Housing and Homelessness Supports, Human Rights and Arts & Culture, and Effective Governance. 

“When I came into office, I wanted to ensure the money the City received from the federal government was utilized to help the communities most impacted by the pandemic and the many long-standing inequities it exacerbated” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “My administration has developed a plan to ensure that these funds are being used in a strategic way to directly and concretely impact the lives of people across Chicago.  

“This plan enables my administration to launch an additional round of the guaranteed basic income pilot with another $32 million investment – putting money directly into the hands of Chicagoans — and increase the number of job opportunities available to Chicago’s youth under our Youth Opportunities Program, which dedicates $66 million to connect Chicago youth to opportunities for employment tailored to their age.” 

The Office of Budget and Management (OBM) developed a meticulous strategy for the allocation of ARPA funds, focused on transparency, equity, and long-term impact. A significant part of this strategy was a thorough evaluation of each community initiative, which was designed to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the spending of ARPA funds across various community programs. 

“The Mayor tasked OBM with identifying any roadblocks to getting funding to the communities that need it the most.  This meant, most importantly, ensuring the organizations that assist the City with program administration are timely paid for their work,” City of Chicago Budget Director Annette Guzman said. “Through our work with City departments that administer ARPA-funded programs, we believe we have set the City on a path to successfully maximizing the impact of these initiatives.” 

A few of the highlighted allocations authorized by the Mayor include: 

• Youth and Economy - $237 million total 

• Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot - $63 million - Provides a $500 monthly stipend to low-income Chicagoans. 

• Youth Opportunities Program - $66 million – Connects Chicago area youth to diverse employment opportunities tailored to their age. 

• Community Safety - $115 million total 

• Emergency Fund for Gender-Based Violence Survivors - $10 million - Provides one-time emergency financial assistance to survivors of gender-based violence to support economic security and achieving safety and well-being. 

• Community Violence Intervention Program - $23 million - Offers case management, outreach, and diversion to individuals at highest risk of participation in violence, focusing on the communities with the most persistent levels of violence.   

• Mental Health and Wellness - $83 million total 

• Family Connects Program - $24 million - Provides home visits to families and their newborn 3-5 weeks post-partum. Visits include a comprehensive physical assessment for the birthing person and infant, along with tailored resources to the family’s needs.   

• Mental Health Equity Initiative - $20 million - Improves access to mental health services through trauma-informed centers of care. The program focuses on populations disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, including youth and young adults.   

• Housing and Homelessness Supports - $72 million total 

• Rapid Rehousing Program - $32 million - Supports households to rapidly move from a shelter or the street to their own housing unit through supportive services.   

• Human Rights and Arts & Culture - $31 million total 

• Artist Relief and Works Fund - $12 million - Targets relief for individual artists and cultural organizations not eligible for other federal relief programs. 

• Tourism and Hospitality Recovery - $16 million - Investments in industry-focused events and showcases highlighting the uniqueness of C5hicago neighborhoods and encouraging tourism to local small businesses. 

• Effective Governance - $37 million total 

Additional details on specific programs can be found in the “Road to Recovery: American Rescue Plan Under the Johnson Administration” at-a-glance at Chicago.gov/OBM. 

In line with ongoing efforts to maintain the highest standards of transparency, the City is enhancing its communication regarding the use and impact of ARPA funds. This includes the submission of monthly reports to City Council beginning this spring and the development of a comprehensive ARPA website and dashboard, scheduled for public release in the fall of 2024.

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