Albany names mix of business, community leaders to plan $85M in federal Covid relief
By Chelsea Diana / Albany Business Review / May 4, 2021
The City of Albany has named 40 business leaders, CEOs, community members and government officials to help decide how to equitably disburse around $85 million in federal aid through the American Rescue Plan.
The 41-person Covid Recovery Task Force is made up of people from a variety of industries, including arts and entertainment, banking, child care, economic development, housing, nonprofits, small businesses and other industries. It is is led by co-chairs Mike Whalen of M&T Bank and Jahkeen Hoke of the Business For Good Foundation.
Most of the $85 million will help bridge the city’s expected revenue gaps from now until 2024. The remaining stimulus money will go toward reopening businesses, preventing evictions and strengthening nonprofits.
The goal of the task force is to figure out how to best use the money to help Albany recover stronger post-Covid, including:
- Create a “shared understanding” of how the American Rescue Plan can help the city
Identify the needs of city residents, businesses and nonprofits that are not covered by other funding sources, such as the Paycheck Protection Program or Economic Injury Disaster Loan - Equitably and strategically maximize resources to help Albany recover
- Engage every sector of the city to make sure resources are directed where needed
The task force, which met for the first time last month, will complete a needs assessment and identify areas in need of investment over the next few months to help determine how to spend the $85 million. The task force will meet once a month to develop a plan and finalize recommendations in July.
Members of the task force include:
Kaweeda Adams, Albany City Schools
Faye Andrews, Albany Community Development Agency
Dorcey Applyrs, Chief City Auditor
Kate Baker, Small Business Administration
Alfredo Balarin, Albany Common Council member
[Editor’s note: Balarin is director of Student Life/EOP at HVCC]
Carm Basile, Capital District Transportation Authority
Bob Belber, Times Union Center
Neenah Bland, Albany Community Action Partnership
Tricia Brown, North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters
Jeff Buell, Redburn Development
Michael Castellana, SEFCU
Chiquita D’Arbeau, Albany Housing Authority
Mark Egan, Capital Region Chamber
Corey Ellis, Albany Common Council President
Sonia Frederick, Albany Common Council member
Anthony Gaddy, UpState New York Black Chamber of Commerce
Peter Gannon, United Way of the Greater Capital Region
Tammis Groft, Albany Institute of History and Art
Jahkeen Hoke, Business for Good Foundation
Kevin Hicks, Albany County Airport Authority
Micky Jimenez, Capital District Latinos
Andrew Joyce, Albany County Legislature Chairman
Anna Kuwabara, Albany Symphony
Eileen Larrabee, Open Space Institute
Angelo Maddox, Fresh & Fly Clothing
Daniel McCoy, Albany County Executive
Dr. Dennis McKenna, Albany Medical Center
Tracy Metzger, TL Metzger & Associates LLC
Giovanni Otero, Salvation Army
Matthew Peter, Albany Parking Authority
Dominick Purnomo, Yono’s and DP’s
Roger Ramsammy, Hudson Valley Community College
Sarah Reginelli, Capitalize Albany
Jahmel Robinson, Albany Common Council member
Havidán Rodriguez, University at Albany
Darius Shahinfar, City of Albany Treasurer
Kathy Sheehan, Albany Mayor
Noelene Smith, Baby Institute
Georgette Steffens, Downtown Business Improvement District
Raphael Tucker, City of Albany Youth and Workforce Services
Michael Whalen, M&T Bank
Published: Wed, 05 May 2021 12:00:23 +0000 by d.gardner