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Mayor Sarno Announces Three More Categories of ARPA RFP’s Now Available

Springfield, MA – Mayor Domenic J. Sarno announced today that the City of Springfield will be offering three more additional categories of Requests for Proposals (RFP) for funding opportunities under the City’s allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).  Beginning on Friday, November 19, 2021, the City of Springfield will open RFP’s for Households, Seniors and Economic Development/Job Creation.

 

The City of Springfield previously released RFP’s for Small Business Assistance, New Business Assistance and Nonprofit Assistance back on October 15, 2021, as part of the City’s $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.

 

All of the City’s ARPA RFP’s are posted on the City of Springfield Department of Recovery and Business Continuity website at:  www.springfield-ma.gov/finance/arpa.  RFP’s will also be made available at the Springfield Municipal Building at 70 Tapley Street and at all local neighborhood libraries.

 

Mayor Sarno states, “My Administration is committed to getting these much-needed RFP’s out for our residents and business community ASAP.  Thanks to the leadership of Congressman Richard Neal, Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means, our local ARPA funding has been designated by the federal American Rescue Plan Act to provide direct aid to the City of Springfield.  We have another transformative opportunity before us, to continue to shape the future of our City, similar to the numerous neighborhood and economic development projects my administration made post tornado.  As previously announced, these RFP’s will focus on the seven categories my Administration has identified to continue to enhance and build upon the many initiatives, programs and projects for the betterment of all in our City.  These seven categories include job creation/economic development; capital projects; housing development and redevelopment; and assistance for businesses, non-profits, seniors, and our neighborhoods.  I want to thank my dedicated city team, especially CDO Tim Sheehan, CAFO TJ Plante, Director of Recovery and Business Continuity Attorney Tom Moore, and Director of Technical Assistance and Compliance Patrice ‘Chae’ Swan for their continued efforts in getting these RFP’s together so that our residents and businesses can take advantage of them.”

 

Mayor Sarno has identified seven categories in which RFP’s will be utilized to enhance projects, programs and initiatives across the city.  They include:  job creation/economic development; capital projects; housing development and redevelopment; and assistance for businesses, non-profits, seniors, and our neighborhoods.

 

In August, 2021, Mayor Sarno created the department of Recovery and Business Continuity, under the Office of Administration and Finance, to serve as a centralized point in which all ARPA funding will go through.  The department of Recovery and Business Continuity (DRBC) is tasked with the objective of effectively, efficiently, and equitably administering ARPA funds within the City of Springfield for all eligible use categories, as determined by the United States Department of the Treasury through its Interim Final Rule. DRBC is responsible for utilizing public input gathered from the City’s residents, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to implement an open and transparent process for ARPA funding to be distributed, so that the maximum benefit is derived for the people of Springfield, in furtherance of the goals and objectives of the Act.

 

Attorney Thomas Moore serves as the Director for this new department and will work alongside the Mayor, Chief Administrative and Finance Office (CAFO) TJ Plante, Chief Development Officer (CDO) Tim Sheehan and Director of Technical Assistance and Compliance Patrice ‘Chae’ Swan to strategically implement the city’s local ARPA funding and to maintain compliance with all tenets of the law.

 

In advance of the RFP’s, Mayor Sarno and his ARPA team made up of  CAFO TJ Plante, CDO Tim Sheehan, Director of Recovery and Business Continuity Attorney Tom Moore, Director of Technical Assistance and Compliance Patrice ‘Chae’ Swan and Budget Analysis Saumajit ‘Sam’ Saha, held nearly 30 listening sessions with neighborhood councils and other agencies, organizations, non-profits and business groups to hear and discuss their ideas and thoughts on how the City can best utilize local ARPA funding.

 

“These neighborhood listening sessions were very helpful and productive in hearing the needs and wants from our community,” Mayor Sarno said.  “We began these listening sessions back in August and were able to hear from almost 30 neighborhood councils, agencies, non-profits, business groups and organizations.  Throughout these sessions, we heard a common theme of what our neighborhoods, residents and business community want and need, and we believe that these RFP’s are focused on addressing many of these projects and initiatives.  For those items that may be beyond the scope of these ARPA RFP’s, we will continue to explore other creative funding sources such as the potential federal infrastructure legislation, and other funding and grant opportunities and initiatives.  Stay tuned!”

 

In addition, Mayor Sarno and his ARPA team continue to have ongoing discussions with our local Springfield State Delegation to discuss the State Legislatures plans for the $5.2 billion ARPA funding the Commonwealth is looking to allocate.  “It is my intention to provide as much assistances and relief as possible to our residents and business community,” Mayor Sarno continued.  “My Administration will continue to lobby and support our state delegation so that our Springfield residents and businesses receive our fair share of the State Legislatures $5.2 billion of federal ARPA monies.  We will also continue to leverage any other state and federal resources that become available.”

 

CAFO TJ Plante stated, “The initial three RFP’s for Small Business, New Business and Nonprofits have been well received and we are looking forward to reviewing and award those submitted applications in the near future.  In continuing with Mayor Sarno’s goal of advancing the ARPA RFP’s we will now post the RFP’s for Households, Seniors and Economic Development and Job Growth for interested parties.  I want to acknowledge and thank Attorney Tom Moore and Director Patrice ‘Chae’ Swan for their continued efforts on our ARPA RFP process and making it efficient, effective, transparent and in compliance with all aspects of the law.”

 

Attorney Tom Moore added, “As we continue to review the initial RFP applications received for Small Businesses, New Businesses, and Nonprofits, we are now ready to announce additional RFPs to provide critical assistance for Households and Seniors, and to promote Economic Development and Job Creation throughout the City. The Mayor’s dedicated team is committed to providing vital assistance for our residents and businesses through these ARPA grants.”

 

CDO Tim Sheehan stated, “The release of three more American Rescue Plan Act assistance RFPs, reflects the City’s understanding that the negative impacts of the pandemic on Springfield have been both sweeping and disproportionate.  These three RFP categories will continue the City’s efforts to build Springfield back better and more equitably as we begin to address the impacts of the virus on our residents, seniors and advance economic development programing and partnerships that makes our economy stronger as we move towards recovery and into the future.”

 

Director Patrice ‘Chae’ Swan said, “We are excited to offer and make available these three additional RFPs as part of Mayor Sarno’s vision to provide direct assistance for our residents and business community.”