Local stimulus funding in the works

Uncertainty, the banner for recession, looms in Harlem as plans formed seven weeks ago at the Upper Manhattan Economic Summit have yet to come to fruition.

The summit—sponsored by Community Boards 9, 10, 11, and 12, the Harlem Business Alliance, and the Harlem Community Development Corporation—focused on strategies for generating and supporting struggling regions of northern Manhattan through stimulus funding. Nearly two months later, in a deepening crisis, these organizations say they will soon submit a report to follow up and set guidelines to realize the summit’s ideas for recharging local economies.

“The purpose of the summit was to bring everyone together and plan how to use stimulus money,” said Thomas Lunke, director of planning for the Harlem Community Development Corporation.

Lunke added that the groups hope to implement expansive plans based “on everything the stimulus is channeled to: infrastructure, green jobs, transportation, workforce training,” and more.

Pat Jones, chair of Community Board 9, said that the summit discussion was geared toward providing information to business owners and individual contractors who would ultimately benefit most from stimulus funding.

Jones noted that the summit answered big questions within the community about the use of stimulus money. She cited some examples of neighborhood concerns: “How do I gain access? How do I get on your mailing list? How do I get engaged in projects on the horizon?”

Jones and Lunke agreed that necessary action is now underway to implement goals established at the event. Lunke said the HCDC is “working closely with the four community boards to draft” the report as the next step forward. He added that, because it is being written by volunteers, the process and time frame have been somewhat unpredictable, though he hopes the drafting does not persist into May.

According to a “resource guide” from the office of Congressman Charles Rangel, who represents Upper Manhattan and finalized his area’s provisions earlier this week, stimulus funds will be diversely spread.

Projects include $8 billion in “funding for intercity and high speed passenger rail capital projects,” $1.12 billion for “restoration, repair, [and] construction” of surface transportation in New York alone, and $2 billion “to provide funding ... for purchase, rehabilitation, and re-occupancy of foreclosed homes.” Each program aims to benefit the neighborhoods represented at the summit in March.

“Billions of dollars in additional funding is available to our state and city that will benefit local communities, non-profits, and businesses,” Rangel wrote in a supplementary letter to the resource guide. “The bill also provides tax incentives to communities and businesses to assist them and help spur economic activity,” the letter read.

Rangel also said in his note that he hopes the stimulus will play a role in establishing “long-term economic stability.”

Rangel acknowledged the severity of the crisis with a hint of optimism. “We are faced with the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression,” he wrote, though he added of the stimulus, “Help is on the way.”