Baltimore has landed the spot as the third-best city in America for employing federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) equitably, as stated in an independent report released by the Institute on Race, Power, and Political Economy at The New School. According to the City of Baltimore press release, the study analyzed spending by 170 cities and counties. It ranked Baltimore alongside Austin, Texas, highlighting the city's commitment to addressing racial and economic disparities with a strong emphasis on equity.
The Budget Equity Project from the institute reviewed exactly how these locales have been using ARPA funding, which was released to tackle not only the COVID-19 crisis but also to seed longer-term, transformative change. In Baltimore's case, they found that out of the $336.7 million in obligated funds reported in July 2023, an impressive 81 percent was geared toward investments that focused on equity. Mayor Brandon M. Scott commented on the city's dedication to rebuilding and the Office of Recovery Programs' diligent work, saying, "Building an equitable city and tackling the intentional disinvestment that so many of our neighborhoods and residents have endured has been a cornerstone of my time as Mayor," as per the city's news release.
The Biden-Harris administration launched ARPA to address systemic injustices, directing resources to communities of color, Tribal communities, and low-income areas hit hardest by the pandemic. Baltimore received $641 million in ARPA funding, using it for direct financial aid to families, support for BIPOC and women-owned businesses, youth employment programs, homelessness services, and public amenities like free Wi-Fi in underfunded areas.
According to the Institute, the ARPA Equity Assessments measure performance across six dimensions, including community engagement, the application of equity tools, and the transparency of investments. In Baltimore's case, they found the city to have made noteworthy strides across these facets. "Our study shows the positive impact and ripple effects of flexible federal recovery funds when anchored by clear equity guidelines," said Sarah Treuhaft, as detailed by the city's press release, heads the Budget Equity Project at the Institute.
