Article by:
Shaundell Newsome
Nevada residents have a great opportunity to become “a part of the solution.” Communities of color have long waited for this. It’s an early Christmas wish list for those who have long suffered. The question is: If you could get the money to fix issues in your community where would you start?
Congress recently passed The American Rescue Plan (ARP), a comprehensive funding package that aids programs and services such as K-12 education, vaccine distribution, food security, consumer protection, housing assistance, direct payments to taxpayers, and additional unemployment insurance assistance.
The ARP will bring an unprecedented investment into Nevada of at least $6.7 billion in aid to address the social, economic, community health and other effects of COVID-19. Of these funds, $2.7 billion will be allocated directly to the State of Nevada with counties and local governments expected to receive an additional $1 billion collectively.
At a time when the livelihoods of Nevadans have been severely impacted by the pandemic, we have a tremendous opportunity to invest directly in the people and communities who have been hit the hardest. Underserved, impoverished and communities of color are a priority.
The “Every Nevadan Recovery Framework” has identified four prioritization categories for ARP investment:
Basic Needs: health, public safety, and access to necessities such as food and housing
Community: strengthening community safety nets, educational access, and infrastructure
Economy: assistance for workers, small businesses, and job creation
Quality of Life: ensuring access to services, programs and other opportunities that build healthy, equitable and resilient communities throughout Nevada
The offices of Governor, Steve Sisolak, and State Treasurer, Zach Conine, have partnered with local agencies to conduct outreach in Northern and Southern Nevada to boost awareness about the $2.7 billion, and to encourage participation in a survey about how the funds should be allocated.
Sumnu Marketing is one of the agencies amongst that team, led by its long-term partner, Purdue Marion and Associates, and we are committed to making sure the community is engaged. We’re partnering with local organizations, business owners, black leaders, and influencers, and strategically participating in community events to engage families because this is a big deal! Our company thrives on creating campaigns that impact lives, and this is one campaign that we may not see twice in one lifetime. Sumnu Marketing has incredible ties in the minority community throughout the state but is always seeking additional partners to help carry important messages such as this one. Partners who are interested in helping disseminate information, or who are hosting events in which our team can engage with the community for feedback, then we welcome you to contact us at [email protected].
“With this federal funding, we have an opportunity that we’d never had before, to fix systemic problems that have existed for decades., I am hopeful that everyone here today will help solve some of these long-standing problems in our state,” said Governor Sisolak at the Southern Nevada ARP Listening Tour Kick-off event.
This outreach is invaluable because it is about our priorities, as a state, but also individually, for our families. This is literally the time for us to voice our opinions about increasing access to health care and community-based services, strengthening public education, supporting disadvantaged communities, strengthening Nevada’s workforces, support for small businesses, enhancing state government services, and whatever else matters to US! So, get engaged, take the survey, and tell a friend to visit www.nevadarecovers.com take the survey!
A successful recovery plan depends on input from all Nevadans. We are hosting a listening tour throughout the state to learn about your priorities, perspectives, and concerns. Please access the QR code above to take our survey and share your views and ideas that will help shape Nevada’s future.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Shaundell Newsome is the Founder & Visionary of Sumnu Marketing. The firm takes pride in working with other local small businesses such as Purdue Marion & Associates to “Create Campaigns that Impact Lives.” Over the past fifteen years the firm uses its platforms like The Urban Voice to inform, engage and educate underserved, minority and hard to reach communities. Shaundell recently received the City of Las Vegas, Ward 5 Citizen of the month for his work in the community. He believes that serving the community is his life’s purpose.
