SPRINGFIELD — Mayor Domenic J. Sarno is continuing to advocate on behalf of Gov. Charlie Baker’s $3.5 billion COVID-19 economic recovery bill, saying its investments in downtown business districts are needed in Springfield.
Sarno, in written testimony to the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets, said the state needs to do its part to help individual communities recover from the economic impact of the pandemic.
“Our residents, businesses and nonprofits need this relief now,” he wrote. Passage of the bill, known as Future Opportunities for Resiliency, Workforce, and Revitalized Downtowns (FORWARD), would help “alleviate the challenges every municipality is facing as a result of the pandemic.”
Baker’s proposal, filed in April, calls for allocating $2.3 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and issuing $1.256 billion in capital bonds. Included in it is $970 million intended to help revitalize downtowns across the state.
The bill is being reviewed by the joint committee before it can be deliberated in either the House or Senate. The committee is scheduled to have a virtual public hearing on Friday and Springfield’s Chief Development Officer Tim Sheehan is expected to testify.
Sarno previously testified in person in May to support the bill.
Sarno’s written testimony, addressed this week to committee co-chairs Sen. Nick Collins, D-Boston, and state Rep. Danielle W. Gregoire, D- Marlborough, wrote that Springfield and other communities across the state need the money.
“As you know, the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected many communities throughout the commonwealth and our nation,” he said.
He noted the city has distributed $47.3 million in its $123 million in federal money under the American Rescue Plan act (ARPA) through five rounds of funding so far, and more is scheduled to be distributed in the coming weeks.
He said it is time for the state to do the same.
“We cannot do this alone,” he said.
“It is imperative for the Commonwealth to seize this opportunity to utilize the federal money and capital spending authorizations to help our local municipalities recover from the economic challenges of the pandemic,” he said.
Sarno said that when it comes to federal ARPA funds, the money needs to be allocated by the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026.
“Time is of the essence,” he wrote. With supply chain issues and the escalating cost of construction impacting planning, Sarno said “The clock is ticking. The last thing you want to tell your constituents is that the federal government clawed back the money.”
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