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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 |