Last ARPA funds for economic development may be spent on Church Street bridge lighting, other projects

The Davis Street Metra tunnel, which the city is considering improving with remaining ARPA funds. Credit: Robert Seidenberg The city’s Economic Development Committee voted Wednesday to recommend how the city should spend its last remaining federal COVID funds earmarked for implementing the Evanston Thrives action plan, directing the money to lights for a downtown train bridge, placemaking installation at two business plazas and prep work for future installations. The city received about $43 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds, starting in 2021, to speed recovery from the impact of COVID, and $3 million was allocated for Thrives initiatives. Less than $1 million of that is still unspent, and the city has until the end of the year to spend it and finish all work on a qualified project or else risk returning the money to the federal government. In a voice vote, committee members unanimously recommended that the city split the remaining $934,579.34 between artistic l