COVINGTON, Ky. — The city of Covington wants to hear from its residents. In a press release, the city announced it has created a survey to gather responses from the public on how to best spend $35.9 million over the next three to five years.

The money must be allocated within broad categories related to recovering from the economic and public health challenges caused by COVID-19, the city said.

Covington must send the federal Treasury Department an outline of how it intends to spend the money by Oct. 31. The money was issued under the American Rescue Plan Act, the $1.9 trillion stimulus package signed into law by President Joe Biden earlier this year.

“The size of the program creates a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Joy Pierson, Covington’s assistant city manager. “We want to make decisions that create positive impact not only in the short term but also for the long haul, impact that can be felt for many generations.”

The survey is available online.

The release stated that Covington's total award of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds is $35,914,130. The city received half that amount in June and will receive the other half in June 2022. The funds must be allocated by the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026.

The Northern Kentucky HOME Consortium, for which Covington is the lead agency, also received a separate allocation of $2,044,421.

Final “rules” or guidance from the federal government is expected for both pots of money later this fall, the city said.

Covington said general guidelines mandate the $39.5 million in Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds be spent:

• To support urgent response efforts aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19 and bringing the pandemic under control.
• To replace “lost” local government revenue used for vital public services and to retain jobs.
• To support immediate economic stabilization for households and businesses.
• To address systemic public health and economic challenges that have contributed to the unequal impact of the pandemic.

The Covington Board of Commissioners will approve the final plan for spending in October; however, even after being presented to the federal government, the plan can be amended.

“This process will be the start and not the end of deciding how these funds will be used,” Pierson said. “The ideas and suggestions that come from this public survey will help the City Commission decide where to focus these resources, and we encourage both residents and leaders of organizations to fill it out.”