Fort Wayne and Allen County received more than $124.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars during the pandemic. The deadline to spend those dollars is looming — by the last day of 2026 — and how local governments used the once-in-a-generation funding says much about priorities, planning and transparency.

On this score, the city has earned high marks. Mayor Tom Henry’s administration laid out clear allocations in 2022: $13 million for health, $18.2 million for neighborhood infrastructure, $6.3 million to spur the economy and $13.3 million for city operations. Officials communicated openly about the choices, tracked spending and invited community groups to apply for grants. Nearly 100 organizations benefited, including Community Harvest Food Bank and the Boys & Girls Clubs.

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