Applications Now Available for FY19 Somerville Community Preservation Act Funds

SOMERVILLE – Application materials for this year’s Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds as well as the FY19 Community Preservation Plan, which sets the funding allocations and priorities for the year, are now available. 

An estimated $1.1 million is available for projects that preserve Somerville’s historic resources and expand and improve our parks and recreation land, including $210,000 earmarked for open space acquisition. This year marks the first year that the minimum funding allocations have changed since the program began in FY15. This year’s funding allocations are:

• Affordable housing: 50 percent minimum, estimated $993,236
• Historic resources:15 percent minimum, estimated $297,971
• Open space and recreational land: 20 percent minimum, estimated $397,295

An additional 10 percent (estimated $198,647) is available in flexible funding. These monies go toward projects in the three categories above based on demand. For example, due to the large number of requests for open space/recreational land funds in FY18, 100 percent of the flexible funds were allocated to open space projects. The remaining 5 percent of CPA revenue goes towards the administration of the program ($99,324).

The City invites residents, organizations, and businesses to submit eligibility determination forms to see if they qualify for the funding. The forms and additional information are available on the CPA website at www.somervillema.gov/cpa under the ‘Apply for CPA Funding’ tab. Eligibility determination forms are due July 18, at 5 p.m. to City CPA Manager Kristen Stelljes at kstelljes@somervillema.gov. Applicants who are unsure of their proposal’s eligibility or have other questions may contact her via email or by phone at 617-625-6600 ext. 2107.

Two application workshops are being offered this year and prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to attend in order to learn more about the application process. The workshops will be held:

• Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at 12 noon: City Hall Chambers at 93 Highland Ave. 
• Thursday, June 21, 2018 at 6:00pm: Central Library Conference Room at 79 Highland Ave.

A video of the workshop will be posted online for those who are unable to attend in person.

The Committee will contact applicants in July to let them know whether their proposal is eligible for CPA funding and they can enter the full application process.

The Somerville Affordable Housing Trust Fund will release the application materials for affordable housing projects later in FY19 and will have an estimated $993,236 available for projects. 

For more information on the CPA, sign up for the CPA Email Newsletter by visiting the City’s website at www.somervillema.gov/cpa and clicking “Sign Up Now for CPA News.”

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Nency Salamoun, at NSalamoun@somervillema.gov or 617-625-6600 ext. 2323.