The mayor and commission of Athens-Clarke County will meet for an agenda setting session Tuesday, where they plan to discuss whether to recapture federal funds that were allocated for affordable housing programs.
At Tuesday night’s meeting, the mayor and commission may make the decision to take back over $3.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds that have not yet been spent by two local affordable housing nonprofits.
Athens Land Trust was awarded over $2.5 million in ARPA funds in December of 2022, while the East Athens Development Corporation received about $800,000. The two nonprofits were required by local government to have spent 25% of the money by the beginning of this year, or risk having the money recaptured. However, they have run into issues spending the required percentage.
The Housing and Community Development Department has recommended that the Commission deny the recapturing of funds. Both nonprofits have submitted plans to realign their spending with the original timeline laid out by the government.
