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Date: 6/2/2022
CHICOPEE – Approved in March 2021, The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provides communities funds to mitigate the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic. As Chicopee looks ahead to its second round of ARPA funding, Mayor John Vieau said he hopes the funds will leave a positive long-term impact on the city.
ARPA Round One
The city received $38 million in ARPA funds, with $14 million received in 2021. The second ARPA payment is expected in August 2022.
Vieau, City Councilor At-Large James Tillotson, Ward 4 City Councilor George Balakier and the city’s department leaders continue establishing ARPA plans during their ARPA Committee meetings. For the first round of ARPA fund distribution, Vieau shared his focus was on infrastructure, public health and equity projects.
“We focused to date on long-term impact to help the taxpayers, the ratepayers and the citizens of Chicopee,” said Vieau in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
Among the approved infrastructure and public health projects, $2 million was given for a Department of Public Works (DPW) pump replacement, $5 million was awarded for the South Fairview Sewer Separation project, $420,000 for turn out gear and $50,000 for public health screenings.
For equity projects, $500,000 went to site improvements for the Boys and Girls Club, $750,000 for Center Street Redevelopment and $500,000 for the Elder Homeowner Resiliency Loan Program. The latter program allows qualified candidates to fund exterior housing projects through a loan that defers until the property is sold.
“Were trying to help those older adults with exterior renovations to help accommodate those who may be facing hardships,” said Vieau in reference to the Elder Homeowner Resiliency Loan Program.
The Center Street Redevelopment funding represents a source for housing support. The awarded funds will allow Valley Opportunity Council (VOC) to redevelop a 30 Center St. property into affordable housing, according to Vieau.
The ARPA Committee also allocated $10 million of ARPA funds under municipal lost revenue. Vieau utilized the appropriated funds for city employee retention bonuses after the committee deemed ARPA guidelines unfit for equitable bonuses.
“The guidelines of essential worker pay [under ARPA consideration] didn’t seem fair,” said Vieau. The City Council approved the retention bonuses during their May 3 meeting.
ARPA Round Two
With round one funds dispensed, Vieau eyes a new approach for the second round of ARPA funds. The mayor expects the next round to focus more on supporting nonprofits and long-term programs.
“The goal is [for the community] to come up with creative conceptual plans that we can turn into programs…we’re trying to put a program together that helps the nonprofit organizations in the city of Chicopee,” said Vieau.
Vieau also expects the development of business assistance programs during the next ARPA round. “As for the business community, we are looking into that as well,” said Vieau.
Previously, the mayor supplemented over 70 businesses with Community Development Block Grants (CDBG).
To encourage community involvement, Communications and Special Projects Manager Rachel Beaulieu shared that the city developed a new ARPA-specific webpage. The page allows residents to learn about the city’s ongoing ARPA disbursement, as well as providing an outlet for ARPA-related idea submissions.
Vieau expressed his hopes that ARPA continues to help repair the damaging impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. “We’re all in this together...we’re trying to find ways to help when we can. We want to do the right thing,” said Vieau.
Readers can learn more about ARPA and submit program proposals at http://www.chicopeema.gov/923/ARPA.