WESTFIELD–Residents are getting the chance to review how several federal grants were utilized over the past year through the city’s community development office.
The community development office has made available a draft of the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for review on the city’s website, and will also be holding a public informational hearing on the document on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 5 p.m. at city hall on Court Street. The document will be available for view on the city’s website now until Sept. 20, and the public is able to provide written comments on it until Sept. 20, at 4 p.m.
Peter J. Miller, director of community development for the City of Westfield. (Photo by Amy Porter)
The document provides residents and others with insight into how Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) formula grants were used throughout Westfield over the past state federal year, from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017.
According to Peter Miller, community development director for the city, the city utilized over $600,000 in grant money on projects through his department this year. This money, according to research related to the projects, directly benefited over 4,000 residents, with an unknown amount of additional indirect beneficiaries.
Miller said that the number of people benefited by the projects comes from quarterly and annual reports that must be submitted with every project being done with the money.
Projects that were funded over the past year included:
- $100,000 for the Avery Street sidewalk project
- $240,000 for the Central Street demolition project
- $60,000 for repairs related to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield’s indoor pool
Other projects included business assistance and facade improvement for businesses that included Circuit Coffee, Blue Umbrella Books and Mina’s Wine and Spirits.
Some of the projects within the $600,000 were from the previous year, Miller said, and projects that are still in progress are not reflected in the figure.
Projects that are still ongoing include the housing rehabilitation program in the city, which is still accepting applications and has six families expected to be helped this year. Also, funds are anticipated to be used for the construction of apartments in the former Moseley School on Dartmouth Street.
If you would like to submit a written comment about the document, you can submit them to Miller via mail at the Office of Community Development, 59 Court St., Westfield, or email them at [email protected].
