City of Phoenix issued the following announcement on Dec. 15.
The Phoenix City council voted Wednesday unanimously to approve a new contract with a local nonprofit to help distribute millions of dollars in America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. The city’s contract with Partnership for Economic Innovation (PEI) will provide a streamlined way to give previously approved direct financial assistance to and families in need due to the COVID-19 pandemic. PEI will provide reloadable debit cards to participants in two programs funded by ARPA: The Family Assistance Resource program (FAR) and the Workforce Wraparound Tuition/Apprentice Program.
Under FAR, which the Council approved in September 2021, 1,000 families with children will be selected to receive a $1,000 stipend for 12 months to use on household expenses like childcare, groceries, rent, and utility bills. Funds will be loaded onto the debit cards each month starting in January 2022. PEI will also staff a customer service line where participants can call and ask both technical and programmatic questions in English and Spanish. Additionally, PEI will provide administrative staff during the launch of the program to provide in-person events to distribute the debit cards and answer preliminary questions.
PEI will also assist with the debit card portion of the Workforce Wraparound Tuition/Apprentice Program to support individuals while they complete programs at a Maricopa County Community College. Under this program, eligible participants receive a monthly stipend of $1,000 for transportation and other personal expenses. Students with young children will receive an additional $500 per month to cover childcare expenses.
Original source can be found here.
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