Mayor Meghan George Issues Statement on Passage of American Rescue Plan

Mayor Meghan George issued the following statement:

“I am grateful to Lakewood’s Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and Senator Sherrod Brown and all the Members of Congress for their support in passing the American Rescue Plan. I have been advocating since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic a year ago for the relief this new law provides and I am relieved to know help is finally on the way.

“The American Rescue Plan will provide help to Lakewood residents in the form of stimulus payments and unemployment support. It will provide support to our nonprofits and small businesses in the form of direct grants. Among many other areas of our lives and economy to be supported, the bill also will provide an estimated $50 million to the City of Lakewood for preparation for, prevention of, and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Lakewood has shown its grit throughout this pandemic but we should not forget the tremendous challenges we have faced together. Citizens have been laid off from their jobs and unable to find work, businesses have closed, and many of us are unsure about what the future will hold for our families and our community. I am confident that this funding will help to resolve many of those problems and concerns, as it will give our residents, businesses, visitors, and employees a needed respite to recover from these past twelve months.

“Lakewood has many identified needs that can be addressed by the American Rescue Plan’s relief. We must be deliberate when considering where to apply this funding. My goal is to identify the initiatives and projects that will bring about the most equitable, long-term impact for our community.

“While I am grateful for this relief, we must be cautious as we deploy it. Such extensive funding is an exciting opportunity, but we are still awaiting details for all the requirements and restrictions to be developed by the federal government. In the meantime, we are on solid footing in Lakewood in terms of health, safety, and economy because we have taken so many difficult steps already. We will maintain that forward progress until it is clear how we can use these funds to augment or accelerate the healthy and safe growth of this community.

“I am optimistic for this funding’s future impact on Lakewood. This is a city of continual renewal and growth, and every day we all work to create a more beautiful, inclusive, and sustainable community. We are turning a corner in this seemingly endless pandemic, and I am confident that our community will come out stronger and more prosperous than ever before.

“Part of that story will be this historic relief passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden earlier this week. Most of the credit goes to the spirit and resiliency of the people of Lakewood. I look forward to being part of its bright future.”