DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – In March 2021, the country faced a “deep economic crisis” due to the pandemic when Congress introduced the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The goal, according to the White House, was to deliver “immediate economic relief to families” as well as businesses.

Instead, local governments across the country have strayed from that original mission and now five years later, many ARPA projects have little or nothing to do with the COVID-19 pandemic.

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At the June 17 city council meeting, the city of Detroit will extend its contract to spend $13.9 million to build what the city council documents described as a “New Athletic Air Dome in Chandler Park.” The council is being asked to extend the contract through Dec. 31, 2025. ARPA funds must be spent by the end of 2026.

In a 2024 press release, the city described the project at Chandler Park as a 130,000 square foot field house that would be the first sports dome in the city. The press release highlighted that the project was “funded by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act.”

“Thank you to President Biden and the American Rescue Plan Act, Detroiters will now have a great new facility to call their own,” said Mayor Mike Duggan in that 2024 press release.