GREENFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — The City of Greenfield is on the receiving end of nearly one million dollars in Community Development Block Grant funding, which will be used to address a variety of initiatives in the city.

The funding totals $925,000 and will be allocated to the following projects:

  • $250,000 for Housing Rehabilitation – Executed through a partnership with Community Action Pioneer Valley to rehabilitate four housing units and set aside for emergency repairs.

 

  • $201,751 for Water Mains Replacement Design and Engineering – The funds will support bid-ready designs and plans for replacing water mains in the downtown Central Commercial zoning district. The bid/design stage is calculated at 15 percent of construction costs. Water main replacements will take place approximately over the next five years.

 

  • $112,500 for Microenterprise Assistance – Executed through a partnership with Franklin County Community Development Corporation. The collaboration includes workshops for owners or potential small business owners and investment capital for qualified microenterprises.
  • $185,000 for Social Services – Several social service programs are receiving funds, including:

 

o   $50,000 for Community Legal Aid’s Homelessness Prevention Project

o   $44,200 for Wildflower Alliance’s Homelessness Prevention Greenfield Expansion

o   $40,800 for the Stone Soup Café Community Free Store

o   $35,000 for the Center for Human Development Greenfield Elder Wellness Program

o   $15,000 for the Center for New Americans Fostering Immigrant Self-Sufficiency Program

“This CDBG funding round will leave a lasting impact on Greenfield,” said Mayor Virginia “Ginny” Desorgher. “I am grateful to CDBG coordinator Anna Oltman and the Community and Economic Development Department for overseeing this process. I am proud that the funds effectively address a variety of important issues in our community.”

“Thank you to the Massachusetts EOHLC for funding this program,” said Community Development Administrator Anna Oltman. “Greenfield’s social services agencies really stepped up with some amazing projects this round, and we’re so grateful to them for the work they’re doing, especially in the areas of homelessness prevention and elder services.”