Arlington Allocates $320K In CARES Act Funding To Local Programs

ARLINGTON, MA — Arlington amended its Program Year 45 Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan to allow for a second special allocation from the CARES Act. The additional funds, totaling $320,485, will be given to the Department of Planning and Community Development, the School Department and Department of Health and Human Services.

The DPCD will receive $200,000 to support the COVID-19 Business Resiliency Program, HHS will be given $60,200 to subsidize a COVID-19 testing for a tenant testing center with the Arlington Housing Authority and the APS will get $60,285 for a tutoring support program for income-eligible students.

The Business Resiliency Program supports small businesses through two tracks: working capital grants to support business stability and technical assistance consulting to help businesses continue to operate during the pandemic.

The HHS Program and the APS program will provide two critical public services: a tutoring support program to low-to-moderate-income students in the Arlington Public School system facilitated by the School Department; and a COVID-19 testing site for tenants of the Arlington Housing Authority, co-facilitated by HHS and the Arlington Housing Authority.

The comment period begins on November 12, 2020, and will end on November 18, 2020 at 4 PM. Public comments may be submitted to Mallory Sullivan, Community Development Block Grant Administrator, at mjsullivan@town.arlington.ma.us. All comments received and the Town’s responses will be included in the substantial amendment that is submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Earlier this year, the town was awarded $659,903 in the first round of CDBG funds allocated by the CARES Act. This funding was programmed to support the Arlington Emergency Tenant Assistance Program, the Arlington Small Business COVID-19 Relief Program for businesses with 5 or fewer employees and for public service agencies including Arlington EATS, Food Link, the Arlington Council on Aging, and the Arlington Boys and Girls Club.