First Wave of American Rescue Plan Funds Distributed to Local Restaurants

L-R: Special projects manager for the City of Muncie, Dustin Clark; Mayor Dan Ridenour; Deputy Mayor Richard Ivy; and the City of Muncie Controller Craig Wright are pictured with a check for the first release of funds, which totaled nearly $210,000.L-R: Special projects manager for the City of Muncie, Dustin Clark; Mayor Dan Ridenour; Deputy Mayor Richard Ivy; and the City of Muncie Controller Craig Wright are pictured with a check for the first release of funds, which totaled nearly $210,000.

Editor’s note: On August 25th, the following additional restaurants received funding: 12th Street Café, Frozen Boulder, the Caffeinery, Twin Archers, Dumpling House. Red Apple, GGs, Queer Chocolatier, Macs on Batavia, Jimmy Johns on Martin Street and Guardian Brewery.

MUNCIE, Ind. – The City of Muncie is proud to announce that funds for the first seven restaurants to be approved by an independent committee for the City of Muncie’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) have been distributed to help those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The seven resturants awarded funds so far are:

  • Sea Salt & Cinnamon
  • Elm Street Brewing Co.
  • Roots Burger Bar
  • Mulligans Grill
  • La Hacienda
  • Yats
  • Vera Mae’s Bistro

These seven businesses will not be the only ones approved for funds. There have been hundreds of businesses that have applied, many of who will receive funds as the independent volunteer committees continue to review applications.

The city administration has allocated $2,000,000 of the city’s overall ARP money to go towards local restaurants. Additional money has been allocated to other classification of businesses including hotels, non-profits and other small businesses within the community.

Those businesses who have not been notified that their application has been rejected are still under review by the specific committee in charge of the grant allotments. If the business has not been contacted already, they will likely be contacted in the near future for additional information if necessary. Each applicant received up to $30,000.

The restaurant money is only a fraction of the nearly $32 million in federal COVID-19 relief aid that the city has allocated to spend over the next four years.

President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into law earlier this year, providing $350 billion in direct aid to state and city governments that experienced tax revenue shortfalls from business lockdowns during the coronavirus pandemic.

The money can also be used to help out businesses and organizations that have felt the impact of the pandemic. Additional rounds of funding may become available.

“We have seen the need in our community to dedicate funds towards restaurant and business who are in need of these funds,” said Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour. “I am committed to helping our local business community not only recover from the effects of the pandemic, but thrive within the City of Muncie.”

The city’s ARP Fund Plan was prepared with the assistance and input of a committee established by mayor Ridenour, which included members of the City of Muncie administration, three members of the Common Council, and other members of the community.

Below is the breakdown of some of the categories the city administration has dedicated funding towards:

Spending in 2021

  • Restaurants – $2,000,000
  • Non-profit organizations – $2,000,000
  • Small business/tourism – $2,000,000
  • Hotels – $350,000
  • Public art/beautification projects – $500,000

Spending allotted for 2022-2024

  • Infrastructure projects – $7,000,000
  • Neighborhood assistance – $1,000,000
  • Projects to aid tourism, travel and hospitality – $900,000
  • Substance abuse and behavioral health treatment – $2,000,000

Each of the categories falls under the spending guidelines set by the, U.S. Treasury Department. Subcommittees have been organized to help determine eligibility requirements, with an additional committee set up to help determine grant allotments. No elected officials will serve in any voting capacity for fund distribution.

 

About Muncie, IN

Incorporated in 1865, the City of Muncie is a welcoming and ambitions community. The municipality has a population of approximately 70,000 residents, and is located in the heart of East-Central Indiana. Muncie prides itself as being a central hub for commerce, recreation, and development. Home to quality education, technology driven development, and a friendly populous. Muncie is proud to be “The Capital of East-Central Indiana.”