A crew from Kee-ta Quay Construction, Hustontown, Fulton County, pour a storm water inlet along 26th Street between Broad Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Altoona is steering toward a potential squeeze at the end of this year with its slate of projects to be funded under the city’s $39.6 million grant from the American Rescue Plan Act grant of 2121.

Because grant regulations require that projects be under contract by year’s end, and because currently budgeted work may cost up to $41.7 million, the city may need to tweak some work plans and perhaps cut a project or two so that payment commitments don’t exceed available funding — while also ensuring the city uses all the money it received.

The city has spent about $30 million so far, according to a chart provided at a recent City Council meeting by Finance Director Jim Gehret.

Of that money, about $6 million has been spent on completed projects, while $24 million has been spent on projects that are still ongoing.

The remaining potential work includes $265,000 for projects not yet begun.

The completed projects:

— $168,000 to cover the cost of COVID-affected workers;

— $34,000 to make up for lost Parking Authority revenue;

— $20,000 to help the Greater Altoona Economic Development Corp. offset a COVID-related business downturn;

— $5 million for business development loans in cooperation with Altoona Blair County Development Corp.;

— $1 million to help the Redevelopment Authority and Land Bank redevelop properties.

Ongoing projects, with budgeted costs:

— $1.7 million for partial reversal of workforce reductions made in response to COVID;

— $335,000 for electronic improvements for better security and public access;

— $120,000 for creation of the fourth-floor Common Room in City Hall;

— $1 million for creation of a training facility and meeting room in a former recycling center on Margaret Avenue;

— $651,000 for an upgrade of the highway garage;

— $2.8 million for expansion of the police station, providing more room for evidence storage;

— $3.7 million for the 2023 capital budget;

— $4.2 million for the 2024 capital budget;

— $2.8 million for the 2023-2024 capital budget;

— $425,000 for a new comprehensive plan and revisions of the subdivision and land development ordinance and the zoning ordinance;

— $150,000 for the Central Blair Recreation and Park Commission for outdoor facilities and programs;

— $1.4 million for sidewalk enhancements and replacements;

— $997,000 for grants to small businesses;

— $212,000 funds for enhancement and upgrading of recreation facilities;

— $14.5 million for storm sewer renovations.

Proposed projects that haven’t begun:

— $165,000 for technological upgrades to the Transportation Center parking garage;

— $100,000 donation toward the UPMC Altoona EMPATH unit.

The city has until the end of 2026 to actually spend the grant money.

The tracking document for the grant spending changes weekly, Gehret told council.

A few of the storm sewer projects are running behind schedule due to easement issues, said Interim City Manager Nate Kissell.

There will likely need to be a final meeting in December to finalize the overall slate of projects “to get us in line with spending,” Kissell said.

“We have a couple (of projects) kind of in our pockets,” he said.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.