ayor Sarno Announces Seventh Round of ARPA Funding Awards
Springfield, MA – Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and the city American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) team announced today the City of Springfield’s seventh round of ARPA RFP funding awards totaling $4,164,607 for small businesses, new businesses, nonprofits, economic development and job creation, neighborhoods, and direct financial assistances for households and seniors. The announcement continues to highlight the Sarno Administrations commitment to utilizing the city of Springfield’s allocation of federal ARPA funding to provide relief and assistance to residents.
The city’s ARPA advisory committee has reviewed a total of 23 ARPA RFP applications from 12 small businesses, 2 new businesses, 8 nonprofits and one (1) economic development and job creation. 17 or 74% of the ARPA applicants are located within the Qualified Census Tracts (QCT) for eligibility. Out of the 15 ARPA applications for small business, new business, and economic development and job creation, 14 or 93% have been identify as minority owned (African-American, Hispanic and Asian), and 4 or 27% are woman owned. Upon the recommendations from the city ARPA advisory committee, Mayor Sarno has approved their ARPA RFP applications.
Those small businesses, new businesses, nonprofits and economic development and job creation receiving funding include:
| Business Name | Amount Awarded | Designation |
| Northern Soul Café | $75,000 |
New Business Minority Owned – African-American
|
| Juguitos LLC | $75,000 |
New Business Minority Owned – Hispanic
|
| SkinCatering, Inc. | $75,000 |
Eco Dev & Job Creation Woman Owned
|
| A Cut Above the Rest Inc. | $30,000 |
Small Business
|
| Mundos Barber Shop | $13,100 |
Small Business
|
| The Kitchen Catering Company | $50,000 |
Small Business Woman Owned
|
| L & A Fine Men’s Shop | $75,000 |
Small Business Minority Owned – African-American
|
| GJG Signs & Digital Signs Corp. | $50,000 |
Small Business Minority Owned – African-American
|
| Baystate Home Guard, Inc. | $50,000 |
Small Business Minority Owned – Hispanic
|
| Palate Restaurant | $75,000 |
Small Business Minority Owned – Hispanic |
| Kingdom Builders Contracting Inc. | $200,000 |
Small Business Minority Owned – African-American
|
| Exotic Scentsations | $50,000 |
Small Business Minority Owned – Hispanic
|
| Golden Heart Home Healthcare, LLC | $100,000 |
Small Business Minority Owned – African-American
|
| 5 Star Cleaners | $75,000 |
Small Business Minority Owned – Asian
|
| Superstars Beauty Salon | $50,000 |
Small Business Minority Owned – African-American Located within QCT
|
|
Follow My Steps Foundation Inc. |
$25,000 |
Nonprofit – Services Minority Populations
|
| Dress for Success | $140,300 |
Nonprofit – Services Minority Populations
|
| Roca, Inc. | $100,000 |
Nonprofit – Services Minority Populations
|
| Boys & Girls Club Family Center, Inc. | $500,000 |
Nonprofit – Services Minority Populations
|
| Mason Wright Senior Living, Inc. | $250,000 |
Nonprofit – Services Minority Populations
|
| Drama Studio, Inc. | $75,000 |
Nonprofit – Services Minority Populations
|
| Partners for a Healthier Community
DBA Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts |
$30,000 |
Nonprofit – Services Minority Populations
|
| The Children’s Study Home | $500,000 |
Nonprofit – Services Minority Populations
|
Mayor Sarno states that while the state legislature continues to sit on the billions of dollars of ARPA monies, his administration has now distributed over $50 million through seven rounds of ARPA funding to businesses, nonprofits, neighborhoods, and household and senior relief for our residents in need.
Mayor Sarno continues by thanking Congressman Richard E. Neal for his leadership and guidance in advocating for the city of Springfield and securing this direct federal ARPA funding for our municipality.
“I want to first thank Congressman Richard Neal for his continued leadership on behalf of the city of Springfield – once a mayor always the heart of a mayor,” said Mayor Sarno. “I’d also like to thank my dedicated ARPA team, led by Director Melanie Acobe, for their hard work and thoroughly reviewing all of our local ARPA applications. Although we want to get these monies out ASAP, we need to be prudent and make sure all that all of the federal checks and balances are followed. This seventh round of ARPA funding goes directly to our nonprofits that play such an important role in supporting our community and to our business community to spur economic development, growth and job creation.”
“I am proud to say that this seventh round of our local ARPA grant funding that my administration has rolled out to our new and small businesses, and nonprofits is all about that good four-letter work, ‘JOBS’!”, Mayor Sarno continued. “It’s about saving jobs, creating new jobs and growing our small businesses which are vital and so important for the economic health of our city.”
“The nonprofits that have been awarded do tremendous work in our community, helping thousands of people with a wide variety of services for our residents. This COVID-19 pandemic has put a lot of stress on individuals and families, and it is important to support our local nonprofits so that they can continue to assist and provide their services for our residents and the community. This grant funding that my administration is allocating will go to enhancing the services these nonprofits provide, especially to those that have been adversely affected by the pandemic.” Mayor Sarno added.
Of note, nearly all of the city of Springfield’s ARPA grant funding awards for small and new businesses have been designated as either minority and/or women owned businesses or eligible within the QCT. This trend further emphasizes Mayor Sarno’s commitment to providing city ARPA RFP relief to minority and women owned businesses that have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the seventh round of ARPA, 15 ARPA applications for small business, new business, and economic development and job creation, 14 or 93% have been identify as minority owned (African-American, Hispanic and Asian), and 4 or 27% are woman owned
In total, Mayor Sarno has awarded 58 ARPA grant-funding awards to small business, new businesses, and economic development and job creation, with 50 or 86% being identified as minority owned. Below is the seventh round breakdown and the year to date breakdown.
Seventh Round (15 ARPA Awards)
| Small Business, New Business, and Eco Dev Job Creation Designation | Number Awarded |
| Woman Owned | 4 |
| Minority Owned |
Total: 14
African-American/Black: 8 Hispanic: 5 Asian: 1
|
| Veteran | N/A |
Year to Date Round (58 ARPA Awards)
| Small Business, New Business, and Eco Dev Job Creation Designation | Number Awarded |
| Woman Owned | 21 |
| Minority Owned |
Total: 50
African-American/Black: 29 Hispanic: 15 Asian: 6
|
| Veteran | 2 |
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Mayor Sarno further announced four (4) ARPA awardees as part of the city of Springfield’s Neighborhood Economic Recovery and Relief Fund totaling $1,397,607. The four awardees are:
| Business Name | Amount Awarded | Description |
| New North Citizens Council | $839,303 | North End Capital Improvements |
| South End Citizens Council | $241,704 | South End Capital Improvements |
| Indian Orchard Citizen’s Council | $288,400 | Indian Orchard Capital Improvements |
| Mattoon Street Historic Preservation Assocation | $28,200 | Mattoon Street Area Safety Improvements |
Mayor Sarno states, “Sustaining and enhancing our successful community and neighborhood initiatives that promote economic growth, beautification and neighborhood enhancements are a hallmark of my administration. I am proud to announce the ARPA award funding to our New End, South End, Indian Orchard and Mattoon Street neighborhoods for capital improvements.”
In February 2022, Mayor Sarno, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer (CAFO) TJ Plante and Chief Development Officer (CDO) Tim Sheehan announced the $12 million investment into the Neighborhood Economic Recovery and Relief fund. The program will help to ensure that neighborhood businesses and institutions, which are at the core of neighborhood life, have the resources to not simply recover from the impacts of the pandemic but to work together with the city towards ensuring our neighborhood centers and the surrounding area include sufficient amenities for residents and the business community to flourish with a focus on disproportionately impacted communities, equity and inclusion.
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Furthermore, Mayor Sarno and the ARPA team announced the second round of Household and Senior ARPA funding awards totaling $103,600 in direct cash assistance for households and seniors located within the QCT or designated as low-income. 74 household and senior applications have been approved and per the federal ARPA guidelines will awarded $1,400 in direct cash assistance.
In July 2022, Mayor Sarno announced the sixth round of ARPA funding awards. 60 ARPA household applications were approved for the direct cash assistances totaling $84,000. In total, Mayor Sarno has awarded 134 household and senior ARPA applications totaling $187,600.
The city’s dedicated ARPA team will continue to review and follow up with all pending ARPA applications for households and seniors, and will award additional ARPA applications once all eligibility and proof of residency requirements have been submitted and approved.
Those awarded households and seniors will be contacted by a member of the ARPA team in the coming days. The city ARPA team would like to encourage any Springfield resident who has submitted an ARPA application to contact them to confirm that all documentation and verification is complete. Residents can contact the city ARPA team by email at arpa@springfieldcityhall.com.
Mayor Sarno states, “I am proud that my administration has committed nearly $200,000 in direct cash assistance for our households and seniors, with more to come. I want to thank our award winning finance team led by CAFO TJ Plante and ARPA team led by Director Melanie Acobe for working diligently to review and approve these additional household and senior ARPA applications for direct cash assistances. I am eager to get these household and senior ARPA applications approved and out ASAP but we must be cognizant that all of the proper verification documentations are submitted. Per federal guidelines, there has to be a thorough review and formalized verification process of the direct cash assistance so that only Springfield residents and households truly in need are awarded.”
This is in addition to the approximately $3 million in assistance Mayor Sarno and CDO Tim Sheehan had allocated to Wayfinders to continue to provide assistance for residents with their mortgage, rent and utility bills.
ARPA Director Acobe also announced today that drop lock boxes will be installed at all four city senior centers to make it easier and more convenient for our households and seniors. The Springfield DPW Municipal building at 70 Tapley Street will continue to serve as a drop off location too. Senior Center locations are listed below:
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Raymond A. Jordan Senior Center 1476 Roosevelt Ave Springfield, MA
|
Monday – Friday 8:15 am to 4:30 pm |
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Clodo Concepcion Community Center (Greenleaf Park) 1187 ½ Parker Street Springfield, MA
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Monday – Friday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm |
|
Hungry Hill Senior Center 773 Liberty Street Springfield, MA
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Monday – Friday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm |
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North End Senior Center 310 Plainfield Street Springfield, MA
|
Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 3:30 pm |
ARPA Director Acobe also stated that her ARPA team will continue to follow up with those pending ARPA applications for households and seniors. For those applications that do not list an email address, the ARPA team will be mailing follow up notification and information with a pre-stamped envelope for them to use to return the needed material, especially for our seniors.
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In total, the City of Springfield has committed approximately $50 million in ARPA funding to support and enhance economic development and job creation and retention and provide much needed relief and assistance to our residents and business community.
Mayor Sarno stated, “There is more to come as our dedicated ARPA team continues to review applications and make sure that they meet all of the federal eligibility requirements and verification process. I am looking forward to making additional announcements in the future as my administration continues to move on our local ARPA RFP front, especially as we continue to move to provide much-needed relief and assistance for our homeowners, seniors, small businesses and nonprofits.
“Again, I would also like to encourage our state Legislature to follow our lead and provide much need relief and assistance for our residents, businesses and nonprofits by committing the over $5 billion of ARPA funding the Commonwealth has been allocated. Our city desperately needs the support from the Commonwealth,” added Mayor Sarno
Director of ARPA Melanie Acobe stated, “The Department of Recovery and Business Continuity is pleased to announce this seventh round of ARPA funding that supports small and new businesses, nonprofits and our neighborhoods, households and seniors. I want to thank those who have submitted an application for their patience and understanding as we continue to review and process the hundreds of applications that have been submitted to confirm that they meet all federal eligibility and verification requirements. We will continue to review and process all of the applications submitted and make recommendations accordingly.”
The City of Springfield received $123.8 million in ARPA funding as part of the $350 billion federal American Rescue Plan Act designated for direct aid to state, local and tribal governments. After meeting with nearly 30 neighborhood councils and other organizations as part of Mayor Sarno’s citywide listening sessions to hear directly from our residents and the business community, Mayor Sarno identified seven categories in which RFP’s will be utilized to enhance projects, programs and initiatives across the city for the betterment of our residents and businesses. They include: Nonprofit Assistance, New Business Assistance, Small Business Assistance, Senior Citizen Assistance, Neighborhood/Household Assistance, Capital Projects/Public Space Improvements, and Job Creation/Economic Development
For more information on the City of Springfield’s ARPA RFP process, ARPA applications and FAQs, please visit the Department of Recovery and Business Continuity webpage at: www.springfield-ma.gov/finance/arpa