State Sen. John Velis has been traveling the Second Hampden and Hampshire district to present millions of dollars in grants to Councils on Aging, economic development projects and more.
Most recently for Holyoke, Sen. Velis and state Rep. Patricia Duffy announced $150,000 in ARPA funding for the Partners for Community Inc.’s Latino Business Grant Program.
The funding was included in the recent American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) legislation. Representative Patricia A. Duffy and Senator John C. Velis filed and secured $50,000 and $100,000, respectively. The funding will assist Latino owned business in Holyoke, particularly those that have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

A link to apply for assistance from the Partner for Community Inc’s Latino Chamber of Commerce is live for applicants and can be found here:

Sen. Velis’s district includes Holyoke and the cities of Chicopee, ward 7, precincts A and B, ward 8, precinct A, ward 9, precinct A, and Westfield and the towns of Agawam, Granville, Montgomery, Russell, Southwick and Tolland, in the county of Hampden; and the towns of Easthampton and Southampton in the county of Hampshire.

For more information about the projects Sen. Velis is working on and the committees he serves, click here.