Mayor Sarno and City ARPA Team Announce Third Round of ARPA RFP Funding Awards
Springfield, MA – Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and the city American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) team announced today at the Mental Health Association (MHA) on Worthington Street the third round of ARPA RFP funding awards under the small business and non-profit categories. The announcement highlighted the Sarno Administrations continued commitment to addressing the public health and mental health needs of the community.
The city’s ARPA advisory committee has reviewed the ARPA RFP applications from nine (9) small businesses and thirteen (13) non-profits and upon their recommendations; Mayor Sarno has approved their ARPA RFP applications. In total, $3,305,000 has been awarded: $780,000 to the small businesses and $2,525,000 to the non-profits, with many, if not all servicing minority communities.
Those small businesses and nonprofits receiving funding include:
| Business Name | Amount Awarded | Designation |
| Howard Motors of Springfield, Inc. | $100,000 | Small Business
African-American/Black |
| City Cleaners | $75,000 | Small Business
Asian |
| The Final Touch Barber Shop | $60,000 | Small Business
African-American/Black |
| Surdoue Boutiques | $25,000 | Small Business
African-American/Black |
| JDL Financial | $75,000 | Small Business
African-American/Black |
| Just B | $100,000 | Small-Business
African-American/Black |
| The Center After School Program Inc. | $100,000 | Small Business
African-American/Black |
| Hot Oven Cookies, LLC | $60,000 | Small Business
Western Hemisphere Hispanic |
| JLJ Corporation, Inc. | $185,000 | Small Business
African American/Black |
| Caring Health Center, Inc. | $500,000 | Non-Profit |
| Mental Health Association, Inc. | $300,000 | Non-Profit |
| Springfield Cultural Partnership Incorporated | $150,000 | Non-Profit |
| Behavioral Health Network, Inc. | $500,000 | Non-Profit |
| Make-It Springfield, Inc. | $50,000 | Non-Profit |
| Springfield WORKS/EDC 413WORKS, Inc. | $50,000 | Non-Profit |
| Community Music School of Springfield | $150,000 | Non-Profit |
| Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts | $60,000 | Non-Profit |
| Pioneer Valley Riverfront Club, Inc. | $125,000 | Non-Profit |
| EDC 413WORKS, Inc. | $75,000 | Non-Profit |
| SquareOne | $500,000 | Non-Profit |
| Serenity Club of Springfield, MA | $50,000 | Non-Profit |
| The Gray House | $15,000 | Non-Profit |
This third round of local ARPA RFP funding brings the total amount awarded to $4,344,619. Mayor Sarno had previously announced the first round of ARPA RFP award funding in December 2021 and a second round of ARPA RFP award funding in February 2022.
All of the small businesses and non-profits have been notified that their applications have been approved and have expressed their deep appreciation for being awarded.
Of the nine small businesses awarded, seven are designated as African-American/Black, one is designated as Hispanic and one is designated as Asian.
Of note, the previous rounds of small business awardees that were announced in December 2021 and February 2022 were all listed as minority and women owned businesses.
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.
Mayor Sarno states, “I am pleased to announce this third round ARPA RFP awards in the small business and non-profit categories. I want to thank my dedicated ARPA team for their continued efforts throughout this RFP process. As stated, my administration wants to get this lifeline funding out ASAP to those who have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic – especially to our local non-profits that are supporting and working to enhance access to mental health services. This access issue has been at the top of my mind and has really been exacerbated by this COVID-19 pandemic.”
“My dedicated city ARPA team and I are excited to make these ARPA RFP funding award announcements as we continue to work together with our community and neighborhood partners, specifically after meeting with over 30 neighborhood and community groups and organizations,” Mayor Sarno continued. “These awards are just the start of many more to come from all of our seven designated categories. I deeply appreciate these small businesses and non-profits for their continued belief and investment in the City of Springfield, of which all are minority and/or women owned businesses. I am also hopeful that with my administration’s continued investment of ARPA funds, that all our recipients can leverage the city’s commitment to also obtain more funding from the states ARPA $5.2 billion allocation too.”
ARPA Advisory Committee member and City Council President Williams stated, “I want to once again thank the ARPA team for their continued efforts in reviewing and awarding this third round of applications of local ARPA RFP funding. I am proud to report that once again, all of the small businesses awarded in this round, over $780,000, will be going to minority owned businesses, which will have a tremendously positive impact within our community. I am also pleased that we have allocated nearly $2.5 million in our ARPA funding to local non-profits that support and invest in our community. The City Council will continue to work with Mayor Sarno and his administration as we continue to move these applications forward and get this much-needed funding out into our community.”
ARPA Advisory Committee member and City Clerk Gladys Oyola said, “I am once again excited with the diverse group of recipients that have been awarded in this third round of ARPA RFP funding. Investing in these small businesses and non-profits is an investment in Springfield’s public health, community and economic future.”
“I am looking forward to making additional announcements in the near future as my administration continues to move forward on our local ARPA RFP front – especially on major neighborhood projects, restaurants, etc.,” Mayor Sarno added. “Stay tuned for more good announcements to come in the very near 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