These are the Columbia organizations receiving ARPA funds from the city

The Columbia City Council has finalized its American Rescue Plan Act allocations. Contracts still will need approval.

A list of award intended uses includes the first set of awards issued in early 2022 and at other points over 2022 and 2023.

While more commonly supported organizations did receive awards, less commonly supported organizations such as CoMo Mobile Aid Collective and Destiny of H.O.P.E. were among recipients.

Concerns over ARPA selection process transparency led to a change earlier this year through a council action. There still was a request for greater transparency through a publishing of letters of intent and requests for proposals from the public.

"What are the particular problems we are going to solve with the money we are giving out," said Tracy Wilson-Kleekamp.

There are no arguments against the awards, but the process by which selections were made.

Anthonly Willroth with Hold CoMo Accountable reiterated its push for the funding applications being made public, saying there have not been sufficient answers to questions.

"You aren't giving us any chance to check your till," he said.

Between 14 to 18 months ago, a community engagement process — including 12 focus groups — took place and letters of intent from organizations were sent in late 2022. By early 2023, requests for proposals were requested, leading to more interview and study by city staff, then to the list of awards being published in the council agenda.

The city received 91 letters of intent, that was whittled to 51 requests for proposals, and a final 26 proposals were selected for the total $25.2 in ARPA funds.

Awards are going to to address service access, affordable housing, community violence, homelessness, workforce support, mental health and capacity building. The biggest piece of the pie goes to affordable housing programs at $8.6 million.

With council approval, it now is up to city staff to draft contracts for the agency awards. The council still has to approve contracts before awards are allocated. Staff plan to bring contracts to the council as they are finalized, rather than in one lump.

More: These four affordable housing projects just received Columbia council support

"We made a decision, we wanted to be clear on what our intent was to where the remaining half of the funding was going," said Mayor Barbara Buffaloe. "...We were asked for $96 million and if we could have funded it all we would have."

Staff will work to get contracts back to the council as quickly as possible, said Nancy Thompson, city attorney.

While the council found value in all applications, there still is support from the city and that could come through the capacity building fund awarded to the city, Fourth Ward Council Member Nick Foster said.

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Columbia council finalizes list of ARPA fund allocations