CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – City Council has approved a significant portion of the last unspent 2021 American Rescue Plan Act dollars toward helping the Salvation Army expand its high-barrier shelter. City Finance Director Chris Cullinan proposed $3-million of about $3.7-million-plus of the money go to the Salvation Army Ridge Street “City of Hope” expansion and renovation. He says the $3-million for the Salvation Army project can be used as an upfront investment toward getting going on an initiative which will costs about $22-million. City Manager Sam Sanders says this will trigger signing of a “memorandum of understanding” committing the Salvation Army to the project.

That leaves just over $749,000 which will be used to reimburse city departments for local money spent on public safety initiatives during the pandemic. Sanders said it’s either spend these federal dollars by December 31, or risk the feds clawing the money back.