Mayor Brandon Scott yesterday announced that his office has selected the University of Baltimore and Morgan State University to help the city evaluate programs funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.
The Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs will partner with the two universities, who will evaluate current ARPA-funded initiatives and advise the city on best practices.
“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 Scott said in a statement yesterday.
“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,” he said.
The American Rescue Plan Act provided $641 million to Baltimore City in response to COVID-19 and its economic impacts.
The city has made five key ARPA investments: $50 million for violence prevention efforts, $80 million for the city’s COVID-19 response and prevention, $30 million to expand workforce development for young people, $25 million for small businesses, and $35 million to help close the digital divide.
Earlier this year, the mayor’s office invited colleges and universities to describe how they would assist the city with research and evaluation of ARPA-funded initiatives.
A committee scored the responses, and the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs selected the two Baltimore-based universities.
Each university will focus on specific program areas.
The University of Baltimore will center its focus on initiatives that are expanding broadband infrastructure, addressing negative economic impacts, and providing services to disadvantaged communities.
Morgan State will evaluate initiatives that involve nonprofit organizations, assistance to small businesses, and the tourism and hospitality industries.
