Apply to Serve on Somerville’s ARPA Advisory Committee

Open Positions: 15
Term: August 17 through September 14, 2022 

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne is building an ARPA Advisory Committee, and all Somerville residents are invited to apply. The ARPA Advisory Committee will be a diverse group of 15 constituents who will work with Mayor Ballantyne to co-create broad funding guidelines for Somerville's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) program. These guidelines will be used by: ARPA staff, to solicit and judge applications; the public, to have a transparent view of how this once-in-a-generation funding source will be spent in their community; and project applicants, to understand the City's priorities for project funding. 

The ARPA Advisory Committee will: 

1. Review the findings of the ARPA community engagement process 
2. Create a statement of community values for all ARPA projects to adhere to 
3. Establish the Mayor's ARPA Funding Priorities, which will provide broad guidelines for how the City will allocate ARPA funds between different eligible uses 
4. Provide feedback on the ARPA funding criteria / request for proposals 

The ARPA Advisory Committee will not review any ARPA funding applications, and its members may not submit any ARPA funding applications during their time on the Advisory Committee. 

The Mayor seeks committee members from a broad range of life experiences, including but not limited to the following demographic groups: renters, low-income residents, residents of color, immigrants, speakers of languages other than English, members of the LGBTQ+ community, youth, seniors, Somerville Public Schools parents, business owners, local workers, artists, nonprofit organization staff, and a Somerville City Council President appointee. 

The Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesdays, August 17 through September 14, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. This is a volunteer position. Advisory Committee members will be confirmed by the Mayor. 

Applications are due Friday, July 29. To apply, please submit a statement of interest and complete a brief questionnaire online at somervillema.gov/arpa. To request a printed copy of the application, contact Erica Satin-Hernandez, ARPA Specialist, via email at eshernandez@somervillema.gov, by phone at 617-729-5042, or by mail at Erica Satin-Hernandez, ARPA Office, 93 Highland Ave., Somerville MA, 02143.

The City of Somerville does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, disability, or any other protected category. Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities free of charge, upon request. 

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or ADA@somervillema.gov.