Columbia’s ARPA evaluation committee to score proposals Monday

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The ARPA evaluation committee is set to meet Monday morning to discuss how to spend $25.2 million dollars. The committee will evaluate scoring and submit their recommendations to Columbia City Council next month.

Over 50 organizations scored high enough to move on to the current phase of the project and had until June 9 to submit their proposals.

Columbia received the funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. The first half of the funding will go toward homelessness, community violence, mental health and workforce development. Columbia City Council directed for the second half of the funding to go towards priority areas requested by residents.

The city has received over $35 million dollars in requests which have made it to this point and over $10 million was requested for projects to reduce community violence.

ARPA records were released in May after a Columbia City Council vote when Ward 1 Councilman Nick Knoth proposed a motion to partially open ARPA application records.

Columbia must spend the money by the end of 2026, or it will be paid back to the federal government.