NEBRASKA CITY - Nebraska City received a nice chunk of change from the federal government for pandemic relief when the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) was passed by Congress. 

The ARPA funds come out to nearly $1.3 million, with nearly half of the money being received already. The second half of the funds will be given out in July. 

City Administrator Lou Leone spent time addressing the possible uses of the ARPA funds with attendees at Nebraska City Tourism and Commerce's monthly Hot Topics meeting.

The federal government was responsible with deciding how much money each community would receive.

Leone said the government prorated the money for Nebraska City based on an old population figure, which came out to around $1,700 per person.

The funds can be used for any number of things in the city, but they also come with a few stipulations on what they can't be used for.

Some of the items the funds can't be used for include, but aren't limited to are lowering taxes, paying down debt and increasing government employee pensions. 

On the other side, the potential uses range from future preventative pandemic measures to economic development.

The city has been in contact with other communities to gather information on their ideas to spend the funds and what they are hearing from their community members.

Leone said town hall meetings have been held in recent weeks to gather further information and ideas from the community.

A third town hall meeting is set for 6 p.m. Thursday at the Rowe Memorial Safety Complex.

Leone encouraged the community to attend to continue to give input on how the funds should be spent.

Leone added that the town hall meetings are helpful because the city get exposed to ideas that it might not have thought of on its own.

Some ideas thrown out at previous town hall meetings include a riverfront development, local business support, childcare services and workforce housing.

But the money doesn't have to all be used on one specific thing. And it can be divided into any number of percentages and assigned to multiple items.

Leone: "[The money] doesn't have to be used in one spot, but it does have to be used. As a city we have until Dec. 31, 2024 to designate it and then we have until Dec. 31, 2026 to completely expend it."

If the money is not spent by the 2026 deadline, the city writes a check to the state for the remaining amount. The state would then decide how the money is spent.

Additional town hall meetings are possible Leone says because the city wants to give as many opportunities as it can to let people speak up.

Leone: "I'm looking to have a Saturday [town hall] meeting as well. The idea is some people work during the day that maybe couldn't make it to the evening meetings. And some people work evenings."

When the city council comes to a consensus on final designations for usage of the funds, a vote will be held to decide where the money goes.

Leone mentioned that barring another pandemic, the money received provides an important opportunity for Nebraska City to invest in the community.

Leone: "This is a one time deal, what do we want to do with it?"