Council reallocates $140,300 in ARPA funds and hears digital-divide program update

Wilmington City Council unanimously approved an ordinance and resolution to reallocate $140,300 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to reimburse overages on a completed Salvation Army roadway project and heard a detailed performance update on the city’s digital-divide workforce initiative.

Finance Director Martha Wayne summarized the ARPA portfolio and told council, "In total, the city of Wilmington received approximately $25.9 million," of which roughly $4.7 million was dedicated to community vitality and resilience projects. Wayne said the requested $140,300 reallocation would cover eligible overages on the Salvation Army reimbursement contract.

Wayne and senior project staff outlined the digital-divide project’s partner distribution: Stagler EdTech (about $1.5 million), StepUp Wilmington ($500,000), Capefare Collective ($300,000) and a small award to the Wireless Research Center. She reported partner outcomes: Stagler recorded about 800 applicants, selected 34 participants and had 28 graduates who secured employment; StepUp achieved a 95.8% completion rate for designated course tracks and placed 43.8% of participants into jobs.

Staff warned council the city’s flexibility to move funds is limited by federal obligation rules: projects had to be obligated by Dec. 31, 2024, and all funds must be spent by Dec. 31, 2026, which constrains post‑obligation scope changes. Council members pressed for more detail on stipend amounts, administrative fees and how much of Stagler’s $1.5 million supported participant stipends; staff offered to provide a line-item breakdown after the meeting.

Council moved and approved Ordinance 01A (supplemental appropriation of $140,300) and Resolution 01B to apply the funds to the Salvation Army reimbursement contract; both measures passed unanimously and council waived second readings.