The Holyoke City Council voted to accept the city’s FY2025 annual plan for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) programs and reviewed committee recommendations for how to allocate program funds and remaining ARPA interest income.

At the Development & Government Relations meeting, Office of Community Development staff and the Citizens Advisory Committee presented an allocation spreadsheet showing requests from community organizations and the department’s and committee’s funding recommendations. The committee recommended directing the full non‑public‑service allocation — roughly $799,595 — toward Department of Public Works infrastructure projects, including sewer repairs, sidewalks and ADA ramps. The committee said funding infrastructure now would protect other investments in public spaces.

The council also voted unanimously to approve the HUD-required resolution adopting the CDBG/HOME annual plan for the three‑city HUD consortium. DGR additionally recommended the mayor consider using $1.5 million of remaining ARPA funds (investment income) for DPW sewer projects; Councilor Sullivan introduced a motion to send that recommendation to the mayor and the council adopted the recommendation for transmittal.

Committee members and councilors stressed that the mayor retains final authority over ARPA spending and that the council’s action was a formal recommendation; several councilors requested a clear accounting of how earlier ARPA reprogramming reduced the available balance from $2 million to $1.5 million and said staff should clarify the reprogramming and reporting schedule.

Ending: The council adopted the annual CDBG/HOME plan and forwarded the DGR recommendation that remaining ARPA interest income be prioritized for sewer and related DPW infrastructure projects; staff and committee members will continue to publish recommended allocations and follow up as grants and ARPA accounting progress.