Local agencies await millions in federal funds before it disappears

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Dozens of organizations and community groups in Buffalo are awaiting their slice of the pie of millions of dollars in federal funds.

Those funds need to be spent by the end of the year or else they go back to Washington, D.C.

A special session has been set in Buffalo City Hall for Monday at 11 a.m. There is still no concrete timeframe for when that money could get out into the community.

This has become a holiday headache for lawmakers, city officials and community groups. Nearly 40 local organizations, at least one school (Villa Maria College) and one health care network (Catholic Health) are waiting to be paid.

"Promises were made, literal promises, conferences, press conferences stated this is what we're going to get to this project, this initiative, and for it not to be followed up is not a good look," said Pastor James Giles of Buffalo Peacemakers.

Back to Basics Ministries, which Pastor Giles leads, said it is due $500,000 for anti-violence efforts. Giles said it had to take out a loan to stay afloat.

"I think what happened was the way ARP came out was rolled out with regulations," Giles said. "Those regulations were very complex and complicated, getting the right people in place to not only discern and decipher those regulations, but coming up with a plan on how they were going to roll it out to the community."

Lawmakers blame the administration of former Mayor Byron Brown.

"The Ghost of Christmas Past that is haunting City Hall is the Brown administration's failure to get the funds out on the street," said Buffalo Common Council Member Mitch Nowakowski.

Lawmakers said the city is at risk of losing $19 million in federal funding. The City Comptroller's Office says that number is higher at $35 million.

The Buffalo Common Council will reconvene on Monday morning at 11 a.m. to talk further about American Rescue Plan funds, and getting the money to local agencies that have been waiting on that money.