County update: ARPA food pantry contracts winding down; credits to be pooled with regional bank

Jackie Petty, the county financial director, updated the board on the status of ARPA funds allocated to local food pantries. Of the original 12 contracts, nine remain active and three converted their allocations into food credits at the regional food bank because the pantries preferred not to manage administration.

Petty reported that one of the three credit allocations has been fully spent, while two other pantry contracts were terminated because the providers lacked capacity to distribute the food. Those terminated allocations have been placed into a pooled credit account at the regional food bank to be accessible by Portage County food partners.

"Three of those are spent down to zero," Petty said of some contract allocations; she added five other contracts are roughly 85–90% expended and one is struggling to spend its allocation. The county is monitoring the remaining contract balances and will close contracts and move unused funds to the credit pool after the June 30 deadline.

Petty said the county will increase its contract with the regional food bank if additional credits are available so that any Portage County partner can request credits. Commissioners asked for more detailed distribution reports—what items were distributed (food vs. essentials like toiletries), where supplies reached the greatest needs, and how the county will communicate availability to current contractors. Petty said she will meet with the Akron‑Canton Regional Food Bank and share distribution metrics and clarifications with the board in a follow‑up report.

Next steps: staff will meet with the food bank and consultants later the day of the meeting, verify remaining contract balances by June 30, close contracts, and make the pooled credits available to county partners.