For Immediate Release
Contact: Councilor Pat Starr- Northeast District – (605) 321-9680 – pstarr@siouxfalls.org
“Today I am recommending the Sioux Falls City Council set aside remaining COVID – ARPA funds granted the City by the State and Federal governments to be used in a program for assisting homeowners in improving the integrity of their homes.
“There are funds remaining in the ARPA program,” said Starr “and these should be set aside in a revolving fund available to our current homeowners and those to come in order to guarantee the stability of that housing market.”
“The Mayor has not told our City Council or residents the amount of remaining funds and before they are wasted on potentially dubious projects, the remaining funds should be used as a homeowner TIF (Tax Increment Financing) type program for our hard hit neighborhoods” Starr added.
“The program could be set up as a revolving small loan fund, allowing future citizen homeowners to borrow funds to keep their homes and property in good condition and thus preventing their neighborhoods from becoming blighted.”
Starr concluded by saying “We have a great and growing city and will continue to be only if we help those who can least afford to make even small investments before their property falls into disrepair.”