UBalt to Advise City on American Rescue Plan Act Initiatives
December 15, 2021
Contact: Office of Advancement and External Relations
Phone: 410.837.5739
The University of Baltimore, alongside Morgan State University, will partner with the Baltimore Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs to leverage its expertise for initiatives funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). According to city officials, UBalt and Morgan will advise the city on "program design, evidence-based interventions, equitable distribution of funds, best practices observed in peer cities, performance metrics, and how to structure and implement rigorous program evaluations for new, innovative programs funded by ARPA."
"ARPA is a one-time investment. Support from these two world-class universities will position us to make evidence-based decisions and show our impact for the benefit of Baltimoreans," Mayor Brandon M. Scott said in a news release. "In a city like Baltimore with deep systemic challenges even before the pandemic, we must be strategic and targeted in our approach—with an eye toward making a definitive, measured impact on our city through a lens of equity. This partnership will allow us to do that."
UBalt President Kurt L. Schmoke added, "We often say that we are not only The University of Baltimore but also the University for Baltimore. We have the skills and local knowledge at UBalt to help the city use these funds for long-term impact and sustainability. It is an honor to be selected to help evaluate the use of ARPA funds."
According to the city, the University's evaluation portfolio will include initiatives addressing "negative economic impacts, providing services to disproportionately impacted communities, and expanding infrastructure—specifically broadband."
Learn more about the ARPA funding plan's involvement of The University of Baltimore.