For Immediate Release: 7/29/2022 12:19 pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 7/29/22
MEDIA CONTACT: Amy Peterson, petersona@worcesterma.gov, 508-799-1175 X31317
City of Worcester Releases First of Several Community-Based ARPA Programs
Worcester – The City of Worcester has released applications for the first of several ARPA-related programs available to community organizations, small businesses and individuals as part of approximately $50M in community-based allocations related to American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
Among the programs in this first round are:
- Community Projects & Programs – this program is designed to assist nonprofit organizations with grant funding to support projects and programs that respond to the negative effects of the pandemic. Proposals for programmatic assistance can request up to $250,000, and proposals for capital improvement projects can request up to $1,000,000.
- Small Business Safety Net – this program will provide grants to for-profit small businesses that were impacted by the pandemic. Grants will range from $5,000 - $11,500 based on the program guidelines.
- Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation – this program will provide grants to owner-occupied properties to assist in addressing building or sanitary code violations. Grant amounts are up to $30,000 per eligible unit.
- Lead Paint Abatement – this program will provide grants to property owners to abate lead paint hazards in residential properties built prior to 1978. Grant amounts are up to $15,000 per eligible unit.
- Flood Insurance – this program, which was posted on the City’s website earlier this month, is designed to assist owner-occupied properties that are located in flood zone. Grants are provided in amount of 50% of the annual flood insurance premium cost.
The City of Worcester has engaged Neighborly, a web-based grant management platform to streamline the administration and management of applications. Integration and implementation of the software will be fully complete by the end of August, at which time organizations, businesses and individuals may begin to submit applications. PDF versions of the grant applications are available now at worcesterma.gov/arpa to allow interested applicants to familiarize themselves with the programs and eligibility criteria.
The City of Worcester will host two technical assistance workshops for interested applicants of the Community Projects & Programs funding on Thursday, August 18 at 6 p.m. in the Levi Lincoln chambers at City Hall, as well as virtually on Monday, August 22 at 6 p.m. with live Spanish translation. Additional languages can be added upon request.
Additional workshops for the Small Business Safety Net program will be announced soon.
For more information, visit www.worcesterma.gov/arpa. Questions can be directed to ARPA@worcesterma.gov.
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