ANN ARBOR, MI — The city of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti Township will receive approximately double the amount of federal stimulus funding than expected through the American Rescue Plan.
While initial estimates projected Ann Arbor would receive $22.5 million from the federal coronavirus relief plan, city officials were informed to only anticipate getting $11.85 million. But after the U.S. Department of the Treasury updated its allocations, Ann Arbor is now set to receive more than $24 million, officials announced Monday, May 10.
Washtenaw County Commissioner Jason Morgan said he believes the initial low figure was due to whether the treasury department considers the city to be a metropolitan area like the county does.
Ann Arbor is categorized as a metropolitan area according to the U.S. Census Bureau definitions for micro/metropolitan areas. That categorization is what justified the city receiving the increase, officials said.
In April, Morgan wrote to the White House on behalf of the city to push for full funding from the stimulus bill. The letter was coupled by a resolution passed by the county board in support of Ann Arbor receiving an amount consistent with other cities in Michigan that had less lost revenue than Ann Arbor.
Much of Ann Arbor’s revenue sources come from entities directly impacted by the pandemic, like downtown parking.
Hit hard by pandemic, Ann Arbor public parking system faces big cuts.
It took a team effort, including U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters and Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor to advocate for the full amount of funding, Morgan said.