Businesses in the city of Montgomery can start applying for federal relief funds, but they need to move fast.
Up to $3 million in ARPA funds are still available to the city, but the deadline to file for a grant program is in June. The funds will be awarded in December. The Montgomery City Council voted to open the application process at their April 7 meeting.
The purpose of the funds is to alleviate the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on businesses.
The city council delayed receiving applications until details could be worked out, but Councilor Andrew Syzmanski urged that the city to open the application process so businesses would have enough time to participate.
“I’ve had people let me know about issues of the administration, fees and all that, but we are literally at the very end of this timeline,” Syzmanski said.
The council voted 6-3 to open the application process.
The council also got their first look at a proposed new flag for the city of Montgomery.
Councilor Oronde Mitchell said that a committee consisting of him and councilors Julie Turner Beard and Franetta Delayne Riley had been working on getting a new design since October 2025.
The committee spearheaded a contest for a redesign, and student Jeremiah Treece submitted the winning idea for the flag. It was designed by Josh Gordon.
The flag bears the outline of a star in front of a ribbon with two olive branches against a red and white background.
A description read aloud at the city council meeting said the red bands represent momentum, movement and the city’s “evolving narrative.” The ribbon symbolizes renewal, as a ribbon cutting signifies new beginnings.
“This gesture marks a visual break from the past, inviting all who see it to envision a unified city moving forward,” said a description read aloud at the meeting.
The ribbon is lined with nine stars representing the city’s nine districts. The star stands for unity and leadership and emphasizes Montgomery as the state capital. The olive branches symbolize peace and goodwill.
“We didn’t want to erase anybody’s heritage here in the city of Montgomery, and we want to make sure that this was a flag that everybody in the city of Montgomery could be proud of,” Mitchell said.
The new flag will be before the council for a vote at the next meeting.
The Montgomery City Council meets at 5 p.m. every first and third Tuesday of the month at City Hall on 103 North Perry Street. Recordings of meetings can be found on YouTube and Facebook.
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