PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Portsmouth City Council member Kathryn Bryant wasn’t on City Council when it received millions of dollars in American Rescue Plan Act funding. Now, thousands of unused dollars will be put to use for residents to navigate federal economic policies.
“Portsmouth, like many communities, really does feel the ripple impacts of the federal government shutdown. A lot of military families here, federal employees here and local businesses,” she said.
According a city spokesperson, the city is tapping into a stash of unused gift cards purchased from COVID-19 era funding to now be used for Portsmouth residents experiencing economic hardship through the sunsetting government shutdown…