McLean County Times

The Deputy City Manager of Bloomington spoke about a lottery system to expend the funds of the grant program.

“This isn't an exhaustive list, but it's a list of things that we could perhaps fund through this grant program," Billy Tyus, Deputy City Manager of Bloomington, said. "Again, limited in terms of the amount we would provide, in terms of the dollar amount of a grant. And our thought was, in fairness, we would do it through a lottery system. We're not married to that, but the thought was do a lottery because there are some people, you could do it first come, first serve, but there are some people who can't get here to apply or who can't. So the lottery, we felt like, might be fairer in terms of how we might expend those funds if this is approved. And so, again, as a manager said earlier. If this is the direction that you're willing to go, then we will come back before you with the approval of some of the programs at a later date for your consideration and approval."

The city of Bloomington is receiving around $13.4 million dollars as part of the American Rescue Plan. The city council needs to approve all of the purchases made with this money, as well as fit it into the plans and accounts in the city treasurer’s office. So far, the council has approved three “bucket” purchases for economic and socioeconomic development in the infrastructure category.

The city has been working on plans for the rest of the funds, focusing on categories that the council highlighted as their priorities at a recent city retreat. The categories that they prioritized in the first draft of their next plan were revitalizing older sections of the city, increasing ADA compliance, workforce development, and addressing homelessness in the area.

The economic and community development head shared some of their proposed ideas for implementing these plans: creating some grants for small businesses, small upgrades to storefronts and building codes in areas, creating grants for nonprofits in the area that are benefitting residents, and with requirements for receiving those grants in order to target those who need them the most. The team also proposed plans for affordable housing in the area.