SOUTHWICK – Southwick narrowly missed out on a Regional Community Development Block Grant for the second time.
James Mazik of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission told the Board of Selectmen last night that it was a close call and only two grants were awarded for total of $1.7 million.
“Only two applications were funded,” he said. “The highest was ranked with 77 points, South Hadley and Granby had 74 points, and Southwick and Granville also had 74 points.”
Because of the tie, they had to go by scores for specific criteria and South Hadley edged out Southwick in the housing category with 20 versus Southwick”s nine.
“We have had some discussions,” Mazik said, meaning he and the Board and Chief Operating Officer Karl Stinehart, “and I spoke with Granville and they are on board to resubmit.”
“We can resubmit with some minor updates,” he said.
The Board agreed to try again and set a public hearing for casino online Jan. 11 at 6 p.m.
“We have to have a meeting with the committee to review the proposal then have them recommend it to you during a public hearing,” Mazik said.
He added that the state indicated they expected more funds to be available in the next cycle.
“Hopefully they will have more money and be able to fund three projects,” he said.
The combined Southwick and Granville grant proposed includes a mobile food pantry, housing rehabilitation project, and improvements to Veteran Street.
The Veteran Street improvement portion of the grant application totals $479,000. The project will result in the replacing of the existing asbestos cement water pipe, as well as other water main work. Six leaching catch basins would be installed and reclamation of the road would take place once all underground infrastructure work is complete.
The mobile food pantry proposed would allow the Our Community Table pantry to serve residents of Granville and Tolland who are not able to access the pantry in Southwick.
The housing rehabilitation program proposed included work on five units in Granville and four in Southwick. The program serves low and moderate income residents by creating safe, sanitary, affordable housing.
