City of Rochester
News Release
Notable News:
- Defines City’s Spending Plan for $202.1M in ARPA Funds
- Includes Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot & Provides Tax and Utility Bill Forgiveness to Qualified Residents
- Creates Loan Program to Combat Food Deserts & Bring New Grocers to Neighborhoods
- “Greenlines” Formerly Redlined Areas With “Buy the Block” Program
- Provides Job Training, Grants for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs
- Expands ROC the Riverway & Reconnects Community to Nature
(Wednesday, September 29, 2021) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren today provided her Strategic Equity and Recovery Plan (SERP) to City Council for their consideration to spend the $202.1 million in American Rescue Plan funds provided by the federal government. Mayor Warren’s plan seeks to ensure that Rochester’s recovery focuses on the wellbeing of families and improving neighborhoods to create a more equitable and resilient Rochester. The SERP is organized around the vision detailed in Rochester 2034, the City’s Comprehensive Plan.
“I’m grateful to the thousands of residents who provided their ideas for our City’s Strategic Equity and Recovery Plan and I’m eager to see their vision realized,” said Mayor Warren. “Together, we can ensure that as Rochester emerges from the pandemic we truly recover together and realize the city we envisioned when we created Rochester 2034, our Comprehensive Plan.”
The SERP contains four major action areas defined in Rochester 2034: (The complete plan is available on the City’s website at: cityofrochester.gov/Rochester2034)
Fostering Prosperity and Opportunity ($75.4 million)
This area includes a Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot program; the final details of which will be determined by the Reparations and Universal Basic Income (RUBI) committee. It also includes funding to expand job training programs including ReJob and YAMTEP, founds a City Sustainability Institute that will ready City residents for new green jobs and creates a partnership with SEIU 1199 to ready a new generation of health care workers. The plan also advances notable ROC the Riverway projects, including the Aqueduct Reimagined project for Broad St., the expansion and renovation of the Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester War Memorial and the Joseph A. Floreano Riverside Convention Center.
Reinforcing Strong Neighborhoods ($86.5 Million)
This section includes funding for the “Buy the Block” program to construct 100 single-family homes on vacant parcels to be owned by income-eligible city residents. It also provides funding for a Housing First Trust Fund to further assist homeowners with acquisition and needed renovations to strengthen neighborhoods, including efforts to help seniors age in place, as well as an expansion of the popular Roofing Assistance program. Rochester’s lead water line replacement program will also be accelerated and grants will be provided to replace their lead service lines from the curb to their home. The City’s successful Senior Meals Program which includes local restaurants providing meals to senior citizens will be continued.
The Placemaking Plan ($17.1 Million)
Ensuring that every corner of our city has unique and enticing assets to define its identity and enhance its desirability is the goal of this portion of the plan. The continued efforts to revitalize the Bull’s Head neighborhood, the creation of a new Northeast Library and a replacement for the Maplewood Library are included. In addition, funds are allocated to expand the successful ROC City Skatepark with new amenities including bathrooms.
Sustaining Green and Active Systems ($15.1 Million)
Rochester is blessed with abundant natural beauty and a rich history and this section of the plan will enhance these assets. Notable projects include the creation of a Civil Rights Heritage Site at Baden Park; numerous improvements at Durand Eastman Beach to improve public access; and the creation of the Maplewood Nature Center, the first of its kind in the city. Numerous improvements to other city parks, playgrounds and recreation spaces are also part of Mayor Warren’s plan.
Planning for Action ($8 million)
To ensure the vision of the plan can be achieved, this section provides contingency funds as well as dollars for additional ideas that may arise as the City moves forward. Dollars in this area will also help replenish the City’s financial reserves and enhance its workforce.
Public Input
The City provided the following public input opportunities to help develop the Strategic Equity and Recovery Plan:
- Community Input Session – held on June 3, 2021 (The session may be viewed at https://youtu.be/CoJOz6IWd_s)
- Telephone Town Hall – held on June 17, 2021 (3,558 participants)
- Online Survey – available May 27 to June 28, 2021 (1,183 responses)
The entire Strategic Equity and Recovery Plan and is available for public review at cityofrochester.gov/ARPA.
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