Mayor Sarno and City ARPA Team Announce Initial RFP Funding Awards
Springfield, MA – Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and the city American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) team announced today the initial round of ARPA RFP funding awards under the small business category. The city’s ARPA advisory committee has reviewed the ARPA RPF applications from five small businesses and have awarded a total of $254,000.
The ARPA RFP awardees are all listed as minority owned businesses. The breakdown is as follows: three are designated as African-American/Black, one as Hispanic and one as Asian.
Those small businesses receiving funding include:
| Applicant | Business Name | Amount Awarded | Designation |
| Kirby Carter |
Phoenix Records Tapes Cultural Accessories
|
$30,000 | African-American/Black |
| Robert Jackson |
Jackson Security LLC
|
$75,000 | African-American/Black |
| Elizabeth Johnson |
Wellspring Harvest Corp.
|
$64,000 | African-American/Black |
| Lesbia Nieves |
Felix Breakfast and Sandwich Shop, LLC
|
$50,000 | Hispanic |
| Jin Choi |
Urban Gear Inc.
|
$35,000 | Asian |
All five of the small businesses have been notified that their applications have been approved and have expressed their deep appreciation for being awarded.
Mayor Sarno states, “I am very pleased to announce this initial round ARPA RFP awards. I want to thank our ARPA team for their continued dedicated efforts on turning around these RFP as quick as possible. As stated, we wanted to get this life-line funding out ASAP. These initial awards are just the start of many more to come from all of our seven designated categories. I appreciate these small businesses and their continued belief and investment in the City of Springfield, of which all are minority owned businesses.”
ARPA Advisory Committee member and City Council President Williams stated, “I want to thank the ARPA team for their continued efforts in reviewing and awarding this initial round of applications for ARPA RFP funding. I am proud to report that all five of the awardees and over $250,000 will be going to minority owned businesses, which will have a tremendously positive impact upon these small businesses. I am looking forward to continuing to work with Mayor Sarno and his administration as we continue to move forward in awarding future awardees and getting this much-needed funding out into our community.”
ARPA Advisory Committee member and City Clerk Gladys Oyola said, “I am thrilled with the diverse group of recipients that have been awarded in this initial round of ARPA funds. Investing in these small businesses is an investment in Springfield’s vibrant future.”
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 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 applications and FAQs, please visit the Department of Recovery and Business Continuity webpage at: www.springfield-ma.gov/finance/arpa