Community Preservation Act (CPA) Grants
The Springfield Community Preservation Committee offers two separate grant programs. The first is our annual grant process and the second is a program offered for homeowners who live in historic districts. Please make sure you're using the correct application for the desired program.
Annual Community Preservation Act grants
Applications for the annual Community Preservation Act grants are now closed. Applications submitted are public and you may view the 2025 submissions by clicking on the project link below. Please note attachments are not included. If you want to view the full application, send a request to klee@springfieldcityhall.com.
Community Preservation Act grants are for projects in the following categories:
1) Open Space 2) Recreation 3) Community Housing 4) Historic Resource.
SCHEDULE OF INTERVIEWS FOR CPA 2025 Applicants
Watch Interviews
| InterviewDate | Project Program Title | Grant Request | Applicant | Neighborhood | CPA Category |
| March 4 | Restoring Stearns Square Granite Bench | $63,300.00 | Metro Center Association, Inc. | Metro Center | Recreation, Historic |
| March 4 | Myrtle Street Park Improvements | $300,000.00 | Indian Orchard Citizens Council | Indian Orchard | Recreation |
| March 4 | Nathan Bill Park - Phase 1 | $300,000.00 | E Forest Park East Civic Association | East Forest Park | Recreation |
| March 4 | Forest Park Fitness Course | $300,000.00 | Forest Park Civic Association (FPCA) | Forest Park | Recreation |
| March 4 | Marshall Roy Park All Ability Play Structures/Enhancements | $300,000.00 | East Springfield Neighborhood Council | East Springfield | Recreation |
| March 4 | Doyle Avenue Trail | $28,900.00 | Nordica Street Community Farm | Liberty Heights | Open Space, Rec |
| March 4 | North Riverfront Park Dock Improvement | $288,000.00 | Pioneer Valley Riverfront Club | North End | Open Space, Rec |
| March 4 | McKnight Park Restoration (aka Buckingham Fountain & Triangle Park) | $205,000.00 | McKnight Neighborhood Council, Inc | McKnight | Open Space, Historic |
| March 18 | Main & State Street Historic Redevelopment and Housing Project | $300,000.00 | McSpring, LLC | South End | Community Housing |
| March 18 | 2612 Main Street Preservation Plan | $100,000.00 | City of Springfield Office of Housing | Memorial Square | Community Housing |
| March 18 | Lot 47 Goldenrod | $300,000.00 | Naylor Nation Real Estate LLC | Bay | Community Housing |
| March 18 | Lot 48 Goldenrod St | $300,000.00 | Naylor Nation Real Estate LLC | Bay | Community Housing |
| March 18 | Hancock Street Single Family Project | $300,000.00 | Hope CDC | Old Hill | Community Housing |
| March 18 | Marshall Street Single Family Project | $300,000.00 | Hope CDC | Old Hill | Community Housing |
| March 18 | Affordable Homeownership | $250,000.00 | Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity | Six Corners | Community Housing |
| March 18 | Kavanagh Project | $350,000.00 | DM Renaissance Development, LLC | Six Corners | Community Housing |
| March 18 | Down Payment Assistance Program | $300,000.00 | City of Springfield Office of Housing | City-Wide | Community Housing |
| March 18 | Mulberry House Roof Restoration | $300,000.00 | Mulberry House Board of Trustees | Six Corners | Historic Resource |
| March 18 | Kimball Towers Condos | $300,000.00 | Kimball Towers Condo Complex | Other | Historic Resource |
| March 18 | Elijah Blake House Exterior Preservation | $300,000.00 | Springfield Museums | Metro Center | Historic Resource |
| March 18 | D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts Exterior Restoration (Phase 4) | $300,000.00 | Springfield Museums | Metro Center | Historic Resource |
| April 1 | Replacement of all regular windows | $50,000.00 | Immaculate Conception Church | Indian Orchard | Historic Resource |
| April 1 | Restoration of Stained Glass Windows | $100,000.00 | Immaculate Conception Church | Indian Orchard | Historic Resource |
| April 1 | Revitalize Our Church | $300,000.00 | Ecumenical Church | Old Hill | Historic Resource |
| April 1 | Daniel's New Bethel Restoration Project | $153,277.00 | Daniel's New Bethel Church | North End | Historic Resource |
| April 1 | 275 Maple Street Carriage House Historic Resource Rehabilitation | $269,297.60 | Commonwealth Academy Holding LLC | Six Corners | Historic Resource |
| April 1 | Andrew Wallace House Historic Resource Rehabilitation | $294,815.40 | Commonwealth Academy Holding LLC | Six Corners | Historic Resource |
| April 1 | Ames House Historic Resource Rehabilitation | $300,000.00 | Commonwealth Academy Holding LLC | Six Corners | Historic Resource |
| April 1 | St. Peter's Episcopal Church restoration of stained glass window | $11,200.00 | St. Peter's Episcopal Church | McKnight | Historic Resource |
| April 1 | 7-9 Stockbridge Street Stabilization | $300,000.00 | Springfield Preservation Trust | Metro Center | Historic Resource |
| April 1 | 52 Sumner Ave Stained Glass Window Historic Resource Rehabilitation | $222,255.00 | Springfield Performing Arts Ventures and Tree House Corp, LLC | Forest Park | Historic Resource |
| April 1 | Paramount Theater Roof Replacement | $300,000.00 | Sachdev Real Estate Development Inc | Metro Center | Historic Resource |
| April 1 | Parent Villages Nonprofit Center Restore and Repair Project | $95,000.00 | Parent Villages Inc. | Metro Center | Historic Resource |
| April 1 | Old First Church | $300,000.00 | Office of Planning & Economic Development & Facilities Management Division | Metro Center | Historic Resource |
| CPA Historic Homes Restoration Program | $300,000.00 | Community Preservation Committee | LHD | Historic Resource | |
| 2025 Total Grant Request | $8,481,045.00 |
Historic Home Restoration Grant
If this program is approved for 2025 funding, a date will be announced and a live lottery held.
The Historic Home Restoration Program (HHRP) offers grants to homeowners who live in the following Local Historic Districts: Quadrangle-Mattoon, Forest Park Heights, McKnight, Maple Hill, Lower Maple, Ridgewood and Colony Hills. Program funds can be used for exterior items only and includes the restoration of original windows and doors, purchase and installation of energy efficient storm windows, restoration of porches, exterior carpentry repairs, painting, roofs, chimney and other masonry work.
*Note* If you've submitted a previous application, it remains on file and will be entered into the next lottery, pending new funding. A notice will be posted on this page and on the committee Facebook page.
Grantees who have been awarded funding in a previous cycle are eligible to apply again but must skip a cycle and submit a new application.
If you think you may qualify for an upcoming lottery, applications are accepted during the year until a deadline is posted. Fill out the Online Preliminary Application and View Full Guidelines
What is the Community Preservation Act (CPA)?
The Community Preservation Act (CPA) was created in September 2000 by state law (MGL Chapter 44B). It allows cities and towns to adopt a property tax surcharge to help fund projects that preserve the character of the community. Springfield voters adopted the CPA on November 8, 2016 and it went into effect on July 1, 2017. In Springfield, the CPA fund is created via a 1.5% surcharge on real estate taxes for residential, commercial, and industrial properties.
What projects qualify for a CPA grant?
CPA funds can be used for Open Space & Recreation, Historic Preservation, and Community Housing. The Department of Revenue (DOR) Community Preservation Fund Allowable Spending Chart is a handy quick reference to see if your project qualifies. The Community Preservation Coalition is a statewide resource and offers a detailed look at allowable uses. See the list below for CPC projects funded in prior years. To view the application for a particular funded project send an email to klee@springfieldcityhall.com
Who are the members of the Springfield Community Preservation Committee?
In accordance with Chapter 267 of the Acts of 2000, a Community Preservation Committee shall be established. In Springfield, a nine-member committee implements the process to recommend project grants to the City Council for approval. The Community Preservation Committee (SCPC) members are appointed from each of the commissions below in addition to three neighborhood appointees by the City Council President. See Springfield Chapter 16 Boards,Commissions and Committees.
SCPC members serve a three year term and may be reappointed.
- Gloria DeFillipo, Planning Board representative;
- Juanita Martinez, Conservation Commission representative;
- Robert McCarroll, Chair, Springfield Preservation Trust representative;
- Judith Crowell, Historical Commission representative;
- Willie Thomas, Housing Authority representative;
- Clinton Harris, Park Commission representative;
- Rhonda Sherrell, Neighborhood representative;
- Stephen Bosworth, Neighborhood representative;
- Yolanda Cancel, Neighborhood representative
A vacancy on one of the commission seats is filled by that respective commission.
A vacancy for a neighborhood representative seat is appointed by the Springfield City Council President. When a vacancy occurs, the President contacts the neighborhood councils/associations (found here: Neighborhood Councils: Community Development, City of Springfield, MA (springfield-ma.gov) and requests they submit a candidate who is interested in serving on the Community Preservation Committee. The President then makes a selection from the submitted candidates and appoints the new member. The new member is sworn-in by the City Clerk. When there is an upcoming open seat, it will be posted here. There are no vacancies at this time.
How to contact the Community Preservation Committee (CPC)
- By email: cpc@springfieldcityhall.com
- By telephone 413-530-1268
- On Facebook: www.facebook.com/SpringfieldCommunityPreservationCommittee
- By mail: Community Preservation Committee, City Hall, 36 Court Street, Springfield MA 01103
- To reach the Administrative Consultant: klee@Springfieldcityhall.com
- To view the meeting agenda and minutes
FAQs
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Are there homeowner exemptions to the 1.5% surcharge?
YES! Households that qualify for low-income, or low or moderate-income housing, as defined by M.G.L. c. 44B, Section 2 are exempt from the CPA surcharge in its entirety. Next deadline for exemptions is 4/1/23
Community Preservation Act Exemption application.
Review income limits for a CPA surcharge exemption
Historic Resources
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Where can I find information about a historic home or property?
The Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS) database (inventory) has surveyed properties compiled by the Massachusetts Historic Commission (MHC) http://mhc-macris.net/
You can search local historic properties through the 1939 Works Progress Administration (WPA) https://www.springfieldpreservation.org/wpa/
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Are there guidelines for restoring or repairing a historic property?
YES! The Secretary of the Interior's Standards has an extensive website for treatment of historic properties https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards/treatment-guidelines-2017.pdf
Any work on historic properties requires a petition to the Springfield Historical Commission.
Housing
Springfield and its Neighborhoods 2019 (Census Data)
Open Space, Recreation, Conservation
City of Springfield Open Space & Recovery Action Plan 2015–2022
Additional Resources
City of Springfield 2024 Community Preservation Annual Meeting
City of Springfield Community Preservation Plan 2025
Department of Revenue (DOR) Community Preservation Fund Allowable Spending Chart
Community Preservation Act: http://www.communitypreservation.org/text-legislation
Community Preservation Ordinance: https://ecode360.com/32319903?highlight=community%20preservation%20committee#32319903
Community Preservation Coalition: http://www.communitypreservation.org/