Share Your Vision for Clearwater

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This video shows the Strategic Plan meeting held on May 24, 2022 at the North Greenwood Recreation Center.

The City of Clearwater has so far held two public meetings to find out how residents think the City should spend approximately $22.48 million of ARPA funds, and get their thoughts on the City’s Strategic Direction Plan.

The City has received $22.48 million as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, and wants the community’s input on how these monies should be spent. Staff are asking residents to review the proposed projects list, take a brief survey to tell them which projects should be funded, and attend a public meeting to give them their feedback on the spending.

Here are some ways that Clearwater residents can participate:

Review the Proposed Projects

Below are 11 projects that meet the program criteria, which staff are recommending for funding:

Startup Funding for North Greenwood Community Redevelopment Agency, $5 million
Fiber Upgrades and Broadband Connectivity, $3.5 million
Affordable Housing, $3.3 million
Street and Sidewalk Improvements, $2 million
Solar Panels for City Facilities, $2 million
Pinellas Community Foundation, $1 million
Non-Profit Cultural Affairs Funding, $1 million
Education – Grants or Partnerships, $1 million
State Street Park Improvements, $700,000
Clearwater Main Library Info Hub, $625,000
Reimburse the City for COVID Expenses, $2,358,893

For more details about these projects, see project descriptions from the drop-down boxes at MyClearwater.com/APRA.

Take the Survey

Take the survey at MyClearwater.com/ARPA. Clearwater is asking residents to take a brief, 3-minute survey to rank the above-listed projects. In the survey, respondents are asked why they ranked the projects in the order that they did and if there are other projects they think should be considered for funding. At the end, residents can add their contact information to stay updated with how the monies are spent.

Attend A Future Public Meeting

Tuesday, May 31, 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Clearwater Beach Recreation Center, 69 Bay Esplanade
Wednesday, June 1, 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Countryside Library, 2642 Sabal Springs Dr.

(A meeting was held May 16 at the Morningside Recreation Center and another on May 24 at the North Green Recreation Center.)

The ARPA allocation must be committed or contractually encumbered to projects and programs by the end of calendar year 2024. All monies must be spent by 2026, and any monies unspent at that time must be refunded to the federal government.

Information provided by the City of Clearwater

Related articles:

Clearwater 2045: A Future Plan

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