Deadline looms for City of Buffalo to disperse American Rescue Plan funding [Video]

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Pastor James Giles said he is still waiting for thousands of dollars in American Rescue Plan funding from the City of Buffalo.

“I’m trying to get them to say, hey, we’re trying to get this work done, and you’re holding us up. Now I gotta go out and borrow money to support a program,” he said.

Pastor Giles is the President and CEO of Back to Basics Outreach Ministries and the Coordinator for Western New York Peacemakers. He explained that the rescue plan dollars are critical to fund a street engagement team with Peacemakers.

“Those are individuals that all through the night, they are interfacing and interacting with neighborhoods where gangs erupt,” he said.

Pastor Giles said city officials originally promised him $2.6 million in funding, then $1.5 million and now it has been cut to around $500,000. He remains hopeful in securing the funding needed …