Asheville will spend the last $501,384 of its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to help the Asheville PEAK Academy boost academic performance and reduce an “opportunity gap” for students from low- to moderate-income homes.

The issue was approved without further discussion on the consent agenda for an Asheville City Council meeting Tuesday night (March 12).

Three years ago this week, Congress set aside $350 billion to help state and local governments whose budgets were hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The City of Asheville’s share from ARPA was $26.5 million. To date, the city has allocated $25.8 million to about 30 different projects.

According to city records, that included:
* About $6.8 million for homeless services.
* Nearly $4 million for affordable housing.
* Just over over $3 million for domestic violence prevention and assistance.
* About $1.3 million for small business recovery efforts.
* About $1.24 million for city infrastructure.
* $800,000 for community communication.
* $233,128 to care for aging residents.
* $221,676 to food systems.
* And $4.4 million to miscellaneous projects.

In September 2023, PEAK Academy submitted a funding request via a letter from executive director Kidada Wynn to Mayor Esther Manheimer.

“Your strategic priorities reveal that you are committed to our cause, and with your support, we will have a domino effect that shall produce extraordinary gains and positively impact the lives of the many people, communities, and families we serve,” Wynn wrote.

City staff members confirmed the program’s eligibility for ARPA funds. The proposal was discussed at a Feb. 13 City Council meeting, and on Feb. 27 the council unanimously authorized the city manager to collect federally-required information to finalize a formal grant agreement for $501,384.

A staff report called it “a unique opportunity to make significant investments in addressing disparate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” and to address the “opportunity gap” for young people from low- to moderate-income homes. The report did note that, if approved, it would be granted without a competitive selection process and exhaust the city’s ARPA funds.

Final approval, including a budget amendment, were approved as part of a lengthy consent agenda during a formal council meeting Tuesday (March 12).

This story was updated following the City Council meeting.