Earth Builders Construction Company workers start renovation and facade work for Los Panchos Restaurant and Cantina in Fresno in this March 2018 file photo.

The Fresno City Council approved $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation by unanimous vote during Thursday’s meeting.

The funds will be aimed at repairing and modernizing building facades throughout the City of Fresno, specifically prioritizing minority-owned businesses and businesses in prioritized areas.

Zone prioritization was the only concern expressed, with Council Vice President Annalisa Perea questioning if businesses in the Tower District — which were not specifically named in the plan — would be considered as a prioritized zone eligible for funding.

Perea ultimately approved the contract with one additional request — the addition of Tower District into the agreement.

Perea pointed out language in the agreement specifically listed Chinatown, Downtown, BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) and TOD (Transit Oriented Development) areas around Blackstone and Kings Canyon.

“I will make a motion to approve the contract but to add the Tower District as a listed portion of the city within the census tracts and opportunity zones to be a priority,” Perea said.

City of Fresno Economic Development Director Lance Lippincott assured the council that census designated opportunity zones would be prioritized for funding.

Following Perea’s request, Council President Tyler Maxwell requested that several zones around the Fresno/Yosemite International Airport be prioritized as well, citing potentially marginalized businesses in his own District 4

“We have a lot of minority-owned businesses, women-led businesses and local businesses in that corridor that need our help,” Maxwell said.

Lippincott added that councilmembers will work with the Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation to prioritize funding requests.