Marianne LaBarge City Councilor | Ward 6 | Northampton, MA

WARD 6

         CITY COUNCILOR

MARIANNE LABARGE
Text Box: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 2, 2022 Mayor Sciarra’s ARPA Advisory Commission Seeks Input on Community Directed ARPA Fund Grant Process Group to Hold Eight Listening Sessions Across the City and Online Para leer en español, visite www.northamptonma.gov/ARPA NORTHAMPTON - Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Commission invite all Northampton residents and community members as well as Northampton-based businesses, nonprofits and organizations to share input about the use of Northampton’s ARPA funds at eight listening sessions to be held at different locations and times in Northampton and Florence. Two of the sessions will be held virtually over Zoom, and one will be hybrid, in person and available by Zoom. The Commission will also be soliciting feedback on the development of the application process to ensure equitable access for all members of the community. The community is invited to share their thoughts on the current needs of Northampton as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.  “I am excited to begin the listening process and am very grateful to the dedicated residents who are helping to guide and build an extensive, equitable and inclusive process,” shared Mayor Sciarra, “I look forward to hearing input and feedback from members of the community to help structure the city’s use of this critical recovery funding.”  Mayor Sciarra has designated $4 million, or 18%, of Northampton’s ARPA funding to projects designed to aid in recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and have a positive impact upon the community. These listening sessions are a chance for the ARPA Commission to hear input from the community to inform its goal of using designated ARPA funds to increase equity and help Northampton recover from the negative impacts of the pandemic.  These eight sessions are designed to facilitate a discussion of community priorities in Northampton, not to comment on specific project proposals. In the coming months, the ARPA Commission will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP). All projects must respond to negative health or economic impacts caused by the pandemic. There will be information sessions for prospective applicants after the RFP is issued. In addition, information will be posted on the city’s ARPA webpage at northamptonma.gov/ARPA.  Businesses and non-profit organizations are encouraged to attend the meetings on June 7th and June 16th. However, all community members are welcome to attend any session they choose.  A Spanish language interpreter will be available at the meetings on June 8th and 23rd at Jackson Street School and Florence Heights. Childcare is available for attendees at the June 8th meeting at Jackson Street School. Please contact the Mayor’s Office in advance to sign up for childcare.  For more information, please visit Northampton’s ARPA website at northamptonma.gov/ARPA, contact the Mayor’s Office at 413-587-1249 or mayor@northamptonma.gov, or Abbie Stone, COVID-19 Economic Recovery Grants Administrator at astone@northamptonma.gov.   Please contact us in advance to request accommodations. Masks are encouraged and will be provided at in person events.