Milwaukee City Wire

Mayor Tom Barrett has given some insight regarding the allocation of Milwaukee's ARPA funds.

"The city is prioritizing healthy and safe neighborhoods with federal funds to bring the pandemic under control while addressing the urgent needs of residents and their families. See how else American Rescue Plan funds are being used at Milwaukee.gov/ARPA," Barrett tweeted.

The City of Milwaukee is putting $26 million in ARPA funds toward lead abatement, $10 million toward street lighting, $15 million toward "responding and adapting to COVID-19 pandemic," $2.3 million toward the Big Clean Initiative, $3 million toward addressing rising crime and $7.1 million toward preventing "reckless driving."

Milwaukee has received almost $400 million in ARPA funds. According to the city's website, the funds will also be put toward broadband access, early education and infrastructure. Mayor Barrett has also said that $10 million from the first allocation of funds will be utilized in 13 of Milwaukee's most troubled areas of street lights.

"We're investing $10 million of the ARPA funds to do that," Barrett said. "That is a very significant investment to improve the quality of life and to improve public safety here in the City of Milwaukee."

As of April, the State of Wisconsin had received around $20 billion in federal aid through five pandemic spending bills. 

"With the ARPA funds, we have an unprecedented opportunity to make substantial investments that can positively impact residents in Milwaukee. One of my priorities is safe, affordable housing options for people here," Barrett said. "By prioritizing housing investments in the city's most economically challenged neighborhoods, we are addressing an important need that disproportionately affects low-income neighborhoods."