The City of Holyoke is positioned to distribute an additional $22 million it has received from the American Rescue Plan Act -Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.

In this video, Alicia Zoeller, director of Community Development, goes over the deadlines and how to apply for federal funds. The program created by the Biden Administration in the aftermath of the health and economic strife caused by the 2020 COVID pandemic ensures that governments have the resources needed to fight the pandemic, support families and businesses struggling with its public health and economic impacts, maintain vital public services, and build a strong, resilient, and equitable recovery by making investments that support long-term growth and opportunity.

Over the last year, Mayor Joshua García and city departments have gathered information and strategized on future recovery activities and ARPA allocations. To date, the City has completed a Community Survey with nearly 700 responses and a Business Survey to guide response and recovery, The City of Holyoke invites municipal departments, stakeholders, non-profits, and other organizations to identify critical community needs in the recovery from COVID-19 and to express their interest in the use of ARPA funds to advance COVID-19 response and recovery. More information about deadlines for applying for ARPA — and Community Development Block Grants — is available here: https://www.holyoke.org/community-development-staff/