GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The City of Green Bay is set to receive $595,446 from the federal coronavirus stimulus package, but first the city must have a plan on how the money will be used.
The city’s Redevelopment Authority approved a plan on Tuesday afternoon to split the money between six areas of need, but the full city council and federal government still must give the final go ahead.
“We’re not naive enough to suggest that this allocation, this $595,000, is going to meet all the needs that exist in the community, but I think they’ve been allocated very appropriately, meeting a diverse set of needs here,” said Eric Genrich, Green Bay’s mayor.
The largest chunk, $136,000, would create the Green Bay Conservation Corps. Out of work residents, who most likely don’t qualify for unemployment benefits, would be hired to do city projects that have been put on the back burner.
“I know for example the parks staff talked about there is an area in one of the parks where there is a wooden walkway that they have all the materials, they just don’t ever have the time to fix that walking area,” said Cheryl Renier-Wigg, Assistant Development Director for Green Bay.
$100,000 would match money already set aside for a small business loan program. The city says it has already approved three loans of up to $10,000.
Another $100,000 would go to nonprofits to help highly impacted essential workers, like sick meat packing or food processing employees.
“Food processing is such a strong part of our economy and these workers and that environment have had some additional exposure, so yes the target could be for employees in those fields,” said Kevin Vonck, Economic Development Director for Green Bay.
$80,000 would go to homelessness programs.
$120,000 would be split between the city’s four business improvement districts that depend on revenue from COVID-impacted events like farmers markets.
The remaining $59,446 would help pay staff for work that would otherwise be funded through the city tax levy.
City Council President Jesse Brunette questioned whether the money for staff was too much and whether the Conservation Corps. was too low.
“It’s either we’re going to do it and do it right and fund it properly of the $595,000 or we should just simply forego that and get it direct in the hands of people who need it.”
The city council will have its say next Tuesday. The city hasn’t been told when it will receive the money.
