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Date: 12/16/2021
SPRINGFIELD – After applying for a Section 108 loan in March, Springfield is gaining $5 million toward downtown business developments after receiving approval from the City Council during its Dec. 6 meeting.
Chief Development Officer Tim Sheehan spoke about the process behind securing the loan and its greater purpose. “We got notification on Sept. 28 that Housing and Urban Development (HUD) had approved our application. The purpose of this funding is to advance economic development initiatives associated with the Main Street and MassMutual Convention Center master plan,” said Sheehan.
Ward 2 Councilor Michael Fenton praised Sheehan and his office for securing the grant, believing that additional funding will play an essential role in revitalizing downtown Springfield. “This is a terrific project and program … It’s really going to help with economic development within and around the convention center,” said Fenton.
Ward 8 Councilor Orlando Ramos expressed similar praise before zeroing in on the order’s wage theft protections. The councilor issued concerns with whether the loan and its language provide enough protections for construction workers. “The City Council has been looking at different ways to prevent taxpayer funds going towards the companies that cheat,” said Ramos.
Sheehan assured Ramos that wage theft protections would be included within any construction contract as a part of receiving the federal grant. “That would ultimately go into the contracting for the specific project,” said Sheehan. He detailed that wage theft protections would be ensured with the loan being apart of the Community Development Block Grant, with the grant program requiring detailed payroll and labor wage records through the construction process.
Councilor At-Large Kateri Walsh inquired about whether the grant funding could go toward additional security around the MassMutual Center. While Sheehan confirmed that funding isn’t allowed for protective measures, he stressed the importance of ramping up the area’s security, including additional efforts on MGM Springfield’s part to operate abandoned security areas. “MGM has spoken often about the lack of manning those substations. That was a part of a contribution they were putting forward as a safety issue,” said Sheehan.
The development officer detailed how additional patrols and lighting would be a key first step in improving safety around the area. “There clearly are issues that we are working on regarding security for the whole area. Obviously, if we are looking at having more activity and activated uses within the area, we’ve been very clear that safety is a number one issue,” said Sheehan.
The City Council approved the order in a unanimous vote.