One day after the South Bend Common Council voted to approve appropriating nearly $10 million of funding for American Rescue Plan projects, Mayor James Mueller signed the ordinance.

This money will go toward the development of Pre-K and community centers in partnership with the United Way of St. Joseph County. Additionally the money will provide relief for residents behind on their water bills, fund demolitions of vacant buildings that pose safety risks.

The mayor’s approval comes amid the broader discussion of the 2022 budget and remaining Rescue Plan projects.

The projects approved this week are those that are time-sensitive and require planning during the final quarter of this year.

More information about the ARP funding, below, from the City of South Bend:

Mayor James Mueller signed Ordinance No. 10812-21, which the South Bend Common Council approved in a 6-2 vote, appropriating the first $9.8 million of funding for American Rescue Plan projects.

This funding will go toward the development of Pre-K and community centers in partnership with the United Way of St. Joseph County, provide relief for residents behind on their water bills, fund demolitions of vacant commercial buildings that pose imminent safety risks, and start the planning process for the Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Center on South Bend’s west side.

“I am grateful for each of the councilmembers who voted to support these impactful projects. The City will continue to direct its federal American Rescue Plan funding to transformative projects for our community,” said Mayor James Mueller. “These initial programs are designed to address serious systemic problems our City faces and were exacerbated by the pandemic. They also will provide greater access for working families in need of childcare, relief for low-income residents struggling to pay their bills, and a funding solution for neighbors frustrated by blight in their neighborhoods.”

The approval of the first round of American Rescue Plan projects comes amid the broader discussion of the 2022 budget and remaining ARP projects. The projects approved Monday are those that are time-sensitive and require planning during the final quarter of 2021, rather than waiting to begin until January 2022.

The Common Council will continue the budget process with an informational meeting on the budget summary on Thursday, September 30 at 5 p.m. Residents can attend in-person in the Council Chambers, or online at https://tinyurl.com/cosbbudget093021.