HOLYOKE — It is once again that time of year as the Holyoke Community Preservation Act Committee has announced the opening of their fiscal year 2025 grant cycle and potential applicants are invited to submit eligibility determination forms from Aug. 15 to Sept. 16.
Adopted by Holyoke in 2016, the CPA’s purpose is to support Historic Preservation, Recreation/Open Space and Community Housing within Holyoke.
Over the years the Holyoke CPA has funded a variety of popular projects throughout the city including the new Miracle League Playground, the restoration of the stained-glass windows at City Hall, Lady Liberty and the Korean Conflict Memorial at Veterans Park and many others. According to the committee, the CPA has brought $43,414,609 to Holyoke in the last five years in matched and leveraged funding.
Chair and City Council representative of the committee Meg Magrath-Smith told Reminder Publishing the application process and how the committee aims to secure CPA funding for specifically community housing, historic preservation and open space and recreation projects.
“We have very specific requirements from the state Legislature around what’s covered and what’s not so everything that is related to CPA needs to be for capital improvement, or a study that would then directly lead to capital improvement,” Magrath-Smith explained. “That means they can cover parks, playgrounds, it can be used for trails, acquisition of land if you’re trying to conserve it, or it can be used for historical artifacts and buildings, or even housing projects.”
Magrath-Smith added it will be interesting to see what applications come forward this cycle and that every year it is important for the committee to balance funding through each category of project. The committee must commit at least 10% of funding in each category.
According to Magrath-Smith, open space and recreation projects is typically the category with the highest percentage of cycle funding as playgrounds and parks are expensive projects and also an integral part of the community that is worthy of investment through CPA dollars.
Some projects of note from last year’s cycle include restoration of more horses at the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round, the establishment of a veterans’ grave preservation fund through the Veterans Services Department — which will help restore veterans’ gravestones in Holyoke cemeteries — and the Wistariahurst retaining wall project.
Housing projects from last year included the Appleton Mill and Library Commons, and ended up being a cycle where more money went toward housing than normal.
“This was definitely a cycle where we put more money in housing than we have historically, and that’s because two great projects came before us and it made sense to fund both,” Magrath-Smith said.
For more information on the CPA Committee’s work visit HolyokeCPAC.org. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact CPC Administrator Amy Landau at Landaua@holyoke.org with questions and for support in the application process.
Magrath-Smith said it was important to add that even with the CPA tax surcharge question on this November’s ballot, the outcome of the vote will not impact this round of funding.
As applications come in, Magrath-Smith added she is happy to continue the work with the committee in brining funding to crucial Holyoke projects.
“CPA funding is a lifeline for the city. For a city where municipal budget feels tight and we are being as strategic as we can to keep costs and taxes low, we wouldn’t be able to do a lot of the projects that we’re doing in the city right now without CPA,” Magrath-Smith said. “I think the committee has funded projects that are just such a no-brainer and so important for the city. As soon as people realize what it’s going towards, they realize their spending per year is totally worth it. I think people should go to the website and become aware of the projects that they have helped to support through this funding source.”
