ARPA city projects

This is the list of city staff recommended projects for our American Rescue Plan Act funds. We developed this list based on our budget priorities - with input from the community members who took this year's survey on this topic - and based on the federal government requirements for how we can spend this money.

We also prepared the project list with information about why each project was chosen, and more of an explanation about how it would benefit the community.

Approved projects

The City Commission has approved the following projects, since mid-October 2021:

  • $2.5 million - Contribution to greater McCamly Hotel and Plaza project, to feature learning partnership with Grand Valley State University
  • $815,000 - Buy 135 N. Washington Ave. (Dolliver property) from federal government, with plan to support affordable housing there
  • $775,000 - Forgivable hotel/motel loans for shared kitchens to serve long-term stay neighbors
  • $497,000 - Air conditioning system for Full Blast Recreation Center
  • $71,400 - Technology upgrades for several city conference rooms, allowing for public meeting live streaming

The commission also approved $17.8 million for city/government services, on Feb. 1, 2022. This includes $10 million for lost revenue the city has faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, as allowed by the U.S. Treasury Final Rule for ARPA funds. It also includes $7.8 million for a list of city staff-recommended projects, enhancing services impacted by the pandemic.

City recommended ARPA projects

Previous list of projects recommended by city staff as of fall 2021, with links to videos the city team created to explain those projects.

Some abbreviations you'll see in the table (done so for space):

  • Gov. services = Government services
  • Env., physical appearance, community design = Environment, physical appearance, community design
  • DEI = diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • DPW = Department of Public Works
  • IT = Information Technology
City department Project Cost estimate ARPA category City budget category Video link
Airport Funds for operations $396,000 Gov. services Economy YouTube video
City Hall facility Outside structure (terra cotta) $955,075 Negative economic impact Env., physical appearance, community design YouTube video
City Hall facility Retaining wall $290,000 Negative economic impact Env., physical appearance, community design YouTube video
City Hall facility Accessible, safe entrance; office changes $637,608 Negative economic impact Economy; Safety; Env., physical appearance, community design; Governance YouTube video
City Manager McCamly Hotel and plaza $2.5 million Negative economic impact Economy; Safety; Env., physical appearance, community design YouTube video
City Manager Broadband internet access $1 million Investment in water, sewer, broadband Economy; Utilities; Env., physical appearance, community design; Governance YouTube video
City Manager Dolliver Building purchase for affordable housing $830,000 Negative economic impact Economy; Env., physical appearance, community design YouTube video
City Manager Downtown parking support $500,000 Negative economic impact Economy; Safety; Env., physical appearance, community design YouTube video
City Manager Neighborhoods Inc. support $450,000 Negative economic impact Economy; Safety; Env., physical appearance, community design YouTube video
City Manager Downtown property purchase $400,000 Gov. services Economy; Env., physical appearance, community design; Arts and culture YouTube video
City Manager United Way support $250,000 Negative economic impact Economy; Safety; Transportation/mobility; Utilities; Governance YouTube video
City Manager Kellogg Arena sports court $150,000 Negative economic impact Economy; Env., physical appearance, community design; Recreation; Governance YouTube video
City Manager Kellogg Arena support $370,000 Negative economic impact Economy; Env., physical appearance, community design; Arts and culture; Recreation; Governance YouTube video
City Manager Diversity, equity, and inclusion officer $110,000 Gov. services Governance YouTube video
City Manager Asst. public information officer $100,000 Negative economic impact Governance  
City Manager The Village Initiative (CCG) $1.5 million Negative economic impact Economy; Env., physical appearance, community design; Arts and culture; Recreation; Governance YouTube video
City Manager Pay out city employee COVID-19 time off banks $60,000 Premium pay for eligible workers Governance YouTube video
City Manager Customer service, staff culture, DEI training $250,000 Negative economic impact Economy; Governance YouTube video
City Manager Hotel/motel common kitchen loans $775,000 Negative economic impact Economy; Safety; Env., physical appearance, community design; Governance YouTube video
Communications Community newsletter return $36,400 Negative economic impact Governance YouTube video
Communications On the Ground Battle Creek support $54,000 Negative economic impact Governance YouTube video
DPW Watkins Road culvert/bank restoration $700,000 Investment in water, sewer, broadband Safety; Transportation/mobility; Utilities; Env., physical appearance, community design YouTube video
DPW Stormwater study $50,000 Investment in water, sewer, broadband Economy; Safety; Transportation/mobility; Utilities; Env., physical appearance, community design; Governance YouTube video
DPW "Welcome to Battle Creek" wall/fountain restoration $50,000 Gov. services Economy; Env., physical appearance, community design; Recreation YouTube video
DPW Sojourner Truth monument/amphitheater restoration $50,000 Gov. services Economy; Env., physical appearance, community design; Arts and Culture; Recreation YouTube video
DPW Replace internet fiber line from city to DPW $25,000 Investment in water, sewer, broadband Utilities; Env., physical appearance, community design YouTube video
DPW Install internet fiber line from Emmett St. to Roosevelt Ave. $40,000 Investment in water, sewer, broadband Economy; Safety; Utilities; Env., physical appearance, community design; Recreation YouTube video
DPW Public Wi-Fi in city parks $40,000 Investment in water, sewer, broadband Economy; Safety; Utilities; Env., physical appearance, community design; Recreation YouTube video
DPW Hamblin/Jackson parking structures joint replacement $300,000 Negative economic impact Economy; Safety; Transportation/mobility; Env., physical appearance, community design; Arts and culture; Recreation YouTube video
DPW Hamblin parking structure façade repair $250,000 Negative economic impact Economy; Safety; Transportation/mobility; Env., physical appearance, community design; Arts and culture; Recreation YouTube video
DPW Hamblin/Jackson/Michigan parking structures structural repairs $225,000 Negative economic impact Economy; Safety; Transportation/mobility; Env., physical appearance, community design; Arts and culture; Recreation YouTube video
DPW Hamblin/Michigan parking structures - coatings $175,000 Negative economic impact Economy; Safety; Transportation/mobility; Env., physical appearance, community design; Arts and culture; Recreation YouTube video
DPW Repair wastewater clarifier $3.2 million Investment in water, sewer, broadband Economy; Safety; Utilities; Env., physical appearance, community design YouTube video
Finance Asst. budget officer $81,000 Negative economic impact Governance  
Fire Plumbing issues - all stations $150,000 Negative economic impact Safety; Governance YouTube video
Fire Turn-out gear extractors - all stations $25,000 Negative economic impact Safety; Recreation YouTube video
Fire Electrical issues - all stations $250,000 Negative economic impact Safety; Recreation YouTube video
Fire Generators - Stations 1, 2, 5 $45,000; $20,000; $21,500 Negative economic impact Safety; Recreation YouTube video
Fire HVAC furnace - Station 2 $15,000 Negative economic impact Safety; Recreation YouTube video
Fire HVAC return/duct work - Station 1 $13,000 Negative economic impact Safety; Recreation YouTube video
Human Resources Software upgrades - Logos and CivicHR $450,000; $100,000 Negative economic impact Governance YouTube video
Human Resources Filing system $100,000 Gov. services Governance YouTube video
Human Resources Administrative assistant $60,000 Negative economic impact Governance YouTube video
IT Software system replacement for Finance, Human Resources, Utilities $1 million Negative economic impact Governance YouTube video
IT Firewall purchase $162,550 Negative economic impact Safety; Utilities; Recreation; Governance YouTube video
IT Document management system $150,000 Negative economic impact Governance YouTube video
IT Timekeeping system $100,000 Negative economic impact Governance YouTube video
IT Warranties for Data Center servers and storage $88,424 Negative economic impact Governance YouTube video
IT Fiber optic network expansion $32,500 Negative economic impact Economy; Utilities; Arts and culture; Recreation; Governance YouTube video
IT Conference rooms virtual meeting upgrades $100,000 Negative economic impact Governance YouTube video
Police Officer wellness for officers/spouses - three-year commitment $180,000 Negative economic impact Safety; Governance YouTube video
Police Dictation software - initial license purchase $68,400 Negative economic impact Safety; Transportation/mobility; Governance YouTube video
Police SPIDR Tech victim connection system $24,300 Negative economic impact Safety; Governance YouTube video
Recreation Full Blast air conditioning system $600,000 Gov. services Economy; Safety; Utilities; Env., physical appearance, community design; Recreation; Governance YouTube video
Recreation Flash Flood Water Park pool resurfacing $200,000 Negative economic impact Economy; Safety; Env., physical appearance, community design; Recreation; Governance YouTube video
Recreation Flash Flood Water Park refresh $60,000 Negative economic impact Economy; Safety; Env., physical appearance, community design; Recreation; Governance YouTube video
Recreation Bailey Park - electrical, plumbing, lighting $300,000 Negative economic impact Economy; Env., physical appearance, community design; Arts and culture; Recreation; Governance YouTube video
Utility Billing Pay off utility accounts receivable $1.6 million Negative economic impact Economy; Governance YouTube video