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Dear Neighbor,
We hope you are enjoying the summer and spending time with your friends and family. Now that critical numbers of persons are vaccinated there are many events restarting or getting larger now that restrictions are waning. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean we are out of the pandemic woods yet. If you aren't vaccinated, please get the vaccine as soon as you can. Please encourage, shame, drive, and follow up with all those you care about to get the vaccine. It is out best hope to contain the virus and its mutations. If you are vaccinated, know that it is still unclear if you can transmit the virus (particularly the new Delta variant) and how susceptible you are to the virus even though you are vaccinated. Be careful and safe.
 Brent T. Ackerson
26th District Councilman
Louisville Metro Council’s Budget Committee has released a schedule for an initial committee meeting and public hearings on Louisville’s use of American Rescue Plan Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery (“ARP”) Funds. Louisville Metro is receiving $388 million and more than $340 Million has yet to be appropriated.
The Committee will meet on Tuesday, July 13 at 3:00 pm to hear testimony about eligible uses of the funds and to begin discussing priority areas. No decisions about funding will be made at the meeting.
In the next two weeks, the committee will have three hearings across the community to take public comments about the use of ARP funds. Speakers may sign up before the start of each meeting to speak for a maximum of five minutes.
The meeting schedule is:
Saturday, July 17. 11am-1:00pm
ShelbyHurst Campus, Founders Union Building - Meeting Room 201
9001 Shelbyville Road
Monday, July 19. 6:30pm-8:30pm
Southwest Regional Library
9725 Dixie Highway
Monday, July 26. 6:00pm-8:00pm
West Broadway Church of Christ
3921 West Broadway
An online form for written comments is also available at https://louisvilleky.wufoo.com/forms/zmw8u5j0366emk/ and https://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council/metro-council-clerk.
What can — and can’t — the American Rescue Plan funding be used for?
On May 10, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the launch of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, to provide $350 billion in emergency funding for eligible state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments. See the U.S. Department of Treasury's facts sheets, references and other information.
USE OF FUNDS
The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds provide eligible state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments with a substantial infusion of resources to meet pandemic response needs and rebuild a stronger, and more equitable economy as the country recovers. Recipients may use these funds to:
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Support public health expenditures, by, for example, funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral healthcare, and certain public health and safety staff
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Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, including economic harms to workers, households, small businesses, impacted industries, and the public sector
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Replace lost public sector revenue, using this funding to provide government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue experienced due to the pandemic
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Provide premium pay for essential workers, offering additional support to those who have and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical infrastructure sectors
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Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, making necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, support vital wastewater and storm water infrastructure, and to expand access to broadband internet
Within these overall categories, recipients have broad flexibility to decide how best to use this funding to meet the needs of their communities.
To read more about how these funds can be spent, click here; ARP Fact Sheet.
I have ideas. How can I share them?
You may attend one of the three meetings listed above, hosted by the Metro Council, or you may click below and scroll down to bottom of page to access the comment form:
American Rescue Plan | LouisvilleKY.gov
Waterfront Wednesday has returned for 2021! Rather than a single free outdoor concert each month, WFPK's Waterfront Wednesday is giving you two concerts a month this year from July through September. All shows are held on Wednesdays on the Big Four Lawn with the lawn opening at 5 p.m. for food and drinks and then music at 6 p.m. For more information as well as rules and restrictions, please click here.
July 28 – The Mavericks, Magnolia Boulevard, McKinley James
August 11 – Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers, Villa Mure, CJ Sparks
August 25 – Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Brooks Ritter, Genevva
September 8 – Dawn Richard, Bendigo Fletcher, Kiana & the Sun Kings
September 22 – Low Cut Connie, Slothrust, Wombo
Staring this month, LFPL will no longer charge fined for overdue items. Louisville officially joins library systems across the country who recognize that fines do not ensure the return of borrowed materials but merely create a barrier to library services that disproportionately affects people who need access the most.
Click here for more information.
Louisville Metro Animal Services (LMAS) announces all redemption fees are waived for unclaimed stray pets at the LMAS shelter through July 31st, to prevent overcrowding or euthanasia for lack of kennel space. A generous donation from the non-profit organization, the Friends of Metro Animal Services (FOMAS) made it possible to waive fees for owners who are concerned about the cost to reclaim their pet.
Redemption fees are waived July 1st - July 31st, 2021. Owners can claim their impounded pet from 12-6pm Monday-Friday, and 12-3pm Saturdays at the LMAS Animal Shelter, located at 3528 Newburg Road.
- Redemption fees will only be waived for pet owners with no previous violations, and cover microchipping, licensing and vaccination fees.
- Court fees will not be waived.
- LMAS will not keep a pet impounded due to its owner’s inability to pay and will work with owners who have outstanding balances and want to reclaim their pet.
We're still on a roll! Carts have been delivered to areas with Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday recycling collection. We are still working on Thursday recycling areas and will begin Friday recycling areas soon. If you see carts being delivered on your street and you did not receive one, you may fill out our request form. Once all scheduled deliveries are complete, we'll work on the request list. Thanks for your patience!
Please note - carts are being delivered to the front of properties, even if your waste is collected in the back. This does not change where your recycling will be collected.
More information about the recycling carts and the new schedule can be found at Louisvilleky.gov/RecycleMore.
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The 2021 Cultural Pass offers families in Greater Louisville with children ages 0-21 access to participate in arts and cultural activities provided by 51 venues, free of charge, from now through August 8.
The Cultural Pass will offer both in-person and virtual experiences this year.
Click here to register for a cultural pass.
Click here to see full list of participating venues.
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Louisville Metro’s Office of Housing is now accepting applications for its Down Payment Assistance and Home Repair programs, all aim to help low- to moderate-income individuals access and retain homeownership and build generational wealth.
In the approved budget, Mayor Greg Fischer allocated $3 million for the Down Payment Assistance Program, up from $1 million in fiscal year 2021, and roughly $7.7 million for the four Home Repair programs – Regular Home Repair, At-Risk, Russell Rental Rehab and Exterior Code Alleviation.
Households must be at or below 80% area median income (AMI) to be eligible for the Down Payment Assistance and Home Repair programs. That is $61,500 or less a year for a family of four.
Applications for both may be submitted at https://portal.neighborlysoftware.com/louisvilleky/participant, and paper copies are available at the Metro Development Center, 444 S. 5th St. Those with questions about the application process and the programs can call the Office of Housing at (502) 574-5850.
Down Payment Assistance
The Down Payment Assistance Program provides a partially forgivable loan with 0% interest to low- to moderate-income homebuyers for down payment and closing costs associated with purchasing a home in Louisville.
Approved applicants can receive up to 20% of the purchase price of the home, and the amount is determined based on individual need. The average amount of Down Payment Assistance paid out is $21,706 per applicant.
As part of a term of the assistance, the purchased home must be the homebuyers’ primary residence for a period of 5 to 15 years, depending upon the amount of assistance received. By the end of that specified period, 50% of the loan is forgiven.
The Down Payment Assistance Program is not limited to first-time homebuyers only. Eligible applicants must:
- Be pre-approved for a mortgage from a local financial institution;
- Have no unpaid collections, past due balances or un-discharged bankruptcies, except medical collections of up to $10,000;
- Have at least $1,500 in savings;
- And meet set home price limits.
Learn more about the Down Payment Assistance Program at https://louisvilleky.gov/government/housing/down-payment-assistance-program.
Home Repair Programs
The Home Repair programs are committed to providing repairs to help stabilize the home for low- to moderate-income individuals who own and are currently living in single-family homes.
The Regular Home Repair, At-Risk and Russell Rental Rehab programs focus maintaining and increasing the supply of affordable, decent, safe and sanitary housing by making investments that positively impact the health and safety of the occupants, including repairing or replacing HVAC, furnace, electrical, plumbing, roof and gutters.
The Exterior Code Alleviation Program eliminates exterior code violations and makes minor essential exterior repairs to improve the sustainability of the home while ensuring their home is warm, safe and dry. Funds through this program may pay for repair or replacement of exterior painting, siding, foundation, windows, roof and more.
The average amount of Home Repair assistance paid out through the four programs is $24,000 per applicant.
The Exterior Code Alleviation Program and Regular Home Repair Program are available to qualified residents throughout Louisville. The Russell Rental Rehab Program is only available to property owners in the Russell neighborhood, and the At-Risk Program is for residents in west Louisville, Shelby Park and Smoketown.
Learn more about the Home Repair programs at https://louisvilleky.gov/government/housing/home-repair-programs.
Team Kentucky’s Shot At A Million provides a great incentive to Kentuckians to get their shot of hope: a COVID-19 vaccine! The drawings also raise awareness of how Kentuckians can obtain an appointment for one of the safe and effective vaccines.
Permanent residents of Kentucky who have received at least the first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines or the one dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine are eligible. Permanent residents of Kentucky are eligible even if they received the vaccine in a different state.
Entry into the drawing must be completed at here. Entry requires your name, birthdate, email address, phone number, home address and the name and location of the place that provided you with the vaccine. Entry also requires agreement to the official rules of the drawing and agreement to allow the Kentucky Department for Public Health to verify your vaccination information.
Read the FAQs
To enter, you must have received at least the first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines or the one-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, and provide the location where you received your vaccination.
View Prizes
12 to 17 years of age
Kentuckians 12 to 17 years of age, who have received at least their first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination, may enter for a chance to win one of fifteen, full scholarships, including room-and-board, tuition, and books, to any Kentucky public college, university, technical or trade school.
Enter Now
18 years of age and older
Kentuckians 18 years of age and older, who have received at least their first COVID-19 vaccination if receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or one dose if receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, have a chance to win one of three $1 million prizes.
Enter Now
The winners will be announced publicly by Gov. Andy Beshear and at shotatamillion.ky.gov. on the following announcement dates:
| Announcement Date |
| Friday, July 2, 2021 |
| Friday, July 30, 2021 |
| Friday, August 27, 2021 |
The Metro plan to move yard waste collection in the Urban Services District to every other week has been scrapped. Yard waste will continue to be collected weekly!
Recycling collection will begin a bi-weekly schedule the week of July 12.
There have been some changes in Driver’s Licenses in Kentucky and a mail-in renewal option ends on June 30. Here are some updates:
- The Mail-In Renewal option (which began last year in response to COVID) will sunset on June 30, 2021. Those needing a regular license renewal and who meet the applicable criteria are encouraged to take advantage of this option. https://www.drivejefferson.com/mail-in-renewal/
- The federal government has extended the Real ID enforcement deadline until May 3, 2023.
Did you know you can visit ANY Driver Licensing Regional
Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services is now taking applications for an added Spring Subsidy program for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis through June 30, 2021, or until designated funds are depleted.
Residents wishing to apply must schedule an appointment utilizing the automated appointment scheduler at 502/991-8391 or visit www.louisvilleky.cascheduler.com.
Applicants must be residents of Jefferson County with a household income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The benefit amount awarded is based on a household’s income and primary fuel type. Benefits are paid directly to the utility vendor, LG&E.
For the Subsidy Component, residents can apply regardless of the status of their utility bills; it is not necessary to have a past-due amount.
Currently, all LIHEAP offices remain closed to walk-in clients in accordance with CDC guidelines, therefore applicants will be requested to drop off all required documentation in a secured drop box at the LIHEAP office selected using the appointment system.
Note: Residents who were served during the recent LIHEAP Crisis Phase may still apply during LIHEAP Subsidy if they meet program eligibility requirements.
For more information including an income guideline chart, visit here. For a downloadable flyer, click here.
School's Out Summer Camp starts Monday
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Don't miss out on one of Louisville's best summer camp experiences! At Kentucky Science Center, campers are encouraged to play, tinker, and investigate the world around them, with plenty of time each day to explore their favorite science center. Kids love the challenging activities and cool themes, and parents love the extended drop-off and pick-up windows available at no extra charge. There's still time to secure your camper's spot, but don't delay! Weeks are selling out fast. This year's themes include:
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- Kaboom!
- SOLD OUT
- SOLD OUT
- Chemistry Quest
- Hollywood Special FX
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NEW: Into the Upside Down
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- Variety of LEGO® Camps
- Coders
- Medical Mysteries
- SOLD OUT
- Makers
- Pokémon Science
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St. Matthews Area Ministries is seeking volunteers for the following areas:
- Fundraising/Special Events
- Home Delivery Drivers - Substitutes
- Food Pantry Substitutes:
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday - various options between 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
If you can help, please email Suzanne DeGregorio our Volunteer Coordinator, suzannedegregorio@stmam.com. If you are interested in finding out more about St. MAM, volunteer orientations will be held after 3 days of volunteerism/shadowing.
Do you know a hard worker with customer service experience looking for a fun summer & fall job? The Belle of Louisville Riverboats are hiring for deck hands, bar & concessions staff & ticket sales. Go to https://belleoflouisville.org to apply!
ABC License Application Notice
We are in and out of the office more these days, but are still restricted as far as in-person meetings and communications. Please contact us at the emails listed in the above-left column or by phone at (502) 574-1126 with any questions or concerns. Thank you. |
