Mayor Sarno stated, “My ARPA team and I continue to meet with our neighborhood councils, this meeting with our Sixteen Acres Civic Association marks the ninth neighborhood council we have met with, with three more scheduled. I want to thank Sixteen Acres Civic Association President Sally Lussier, the 16 Acres Board and residents for hosting us at the Clodo Concepcion/Greenleaf Community Center. We had a great discussion and heard their ideas on how they would like to see the City use the ARPA funding to enhance their neighborhood. My ARPA team will review these ideas to see how we can enhance the neighborhood under the seven categories my Administration has identified to capitalize on and to continue to move our City forward for everyone. As I have stated, we have another transformative opportunity to continue to shape the future of our City, similar to the numerous neighborhood and economic development projects my Administration made post tornado. As previously announced, I have created these seven (7) categories; job creation/economic development, capital projects, assistance for businesses, non-profits, seniors, our neighborhoods, and housing, in which my administration will issue RFP’s in order to enhance these initiatives for the betterment of all in our City.”
Mayor Sarno has already met with a number of non-profit agencies, business groups and religious organizations to discuss the potential opportunities for the City of Springfield to utilize ARPA funding. In addition to today’s meetings, Mayor Sarno and city officials have met with 18 organizations, agencies, non-profits and the following neighborhood councils; Hungry Hill, East Springfield, Maple High Six Corners, McKnight, Old Hill, Upper Hill, Indian Orchard Citizens Council, New North Citizens Council and Sixteen Acres Civic Association. Additional neighborhood council and nonprofit meetings are scheduled.
