Albany PAL among ARPA fund recipients

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Funds from the American Rescue Plan Act — better known as The Stimulus — were meant to help relieve Americans and American institutions after COVID. Leonard Ricchiuti [RICK-CUTE-TEE] Executive Director of the Albany PAL says financial stimulation is just what his program needs. 

“We did get a substantial dollar amount that in turn is for programming for the next almost two years,” Ricchiuti said.

Ricchiuti says the pandemic was especially hard on his program.

"Obviously the numbers dropped drastically during COVID. We weren't allowed to do stuff and then it was difficult bringing people back and re-engaging them," the program director added.

While his organization's youth programs returned in the nearly four years since restrictions were lifted, challenges persist. 

“Our summer camps back to an extent and besides the other challenges that we continue to deal with with finding staff, hiring staff, keeping staff” Ricchiuti explained.

The ARPA funds will give the program the ability to hire a full-time athletic coordinator to introduce sports, which he says is an important part of having youth bond with the police. 

“And it also gives Both the youth and the officer to see each other in an entirely different setting. The kids get to see the officer in some gym clothes running around and having fun instructing them and the officer gets to see the young person in the raws of forms you know looking to learn and be engaged.”

Ricchiuti hopes the ARPA funds will be in place by October 1. The PAL says the funds will go a long way to keeping many of their programs free of charge.