Newton Allocates Another $23M In ARPA Funding

NEWTON, MA — The CIty of Newton has allocated another $23 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller said last week.

The city has now invested $57 million in ARPA funds out of the $63.5 million received from the state.

“I am excited to share the next set of transformative investments we are making with the City of Newton’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds,” Fuller said in a statement. "These investments reflect input from across our community, and they will make Newton more resilient, more livable, more vibrant, more inclusive, and more sustainable for years to come.”

The latest allocation will fund the following projects in education, housing, transportation, parks and recreation, economic recovery, and more:

• $2 million towards new reading curriculum materials for students and teachers, Kindergarten – 5th Grade in all 15 elementary schools.
• $100,000 towards professional services to inform facility decisions for the Ward and Underwood elementary schools.
• $3.5 million towards the creation of affordable housing and/or energy retrofits for affordable housing.
• $500,000 in accessibility investments in curb ramps and playgrounds.
• $4 million to repave roads in the worst condition in our neighborhoods.
• $2 million for traffic calming measures to improve safety.
• $2.5 million for investments in our athletic fields, Gath Pool, Crystal Lake beach, parks, playgrounds and recreation facilities.
• $1.8 million towards renovating the performing arts auditorium at 150 Jackson Road to serve students at the new home for the Lincoln-Eliot Elementary School and the larger Newton community.
• $200,000 towards revitalizing the exhibits at Newton’s History Museum to better reflect our diverse heritage.
• $3 million to make Washington Street along the Mass Pike safer and more inviting.
• $750,000 for the final design of improvements to Newton Highlands to support a business-friendly, multimodal (pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers, public transit users), resilient and inviting village center.
• $2 million to recover from lost revenues in the City’s General Fund in FY24 and $1 million for FY25 to support our services and programs for students, residents and businesses .

Fuller said the city is retaining nearly 10 percent, or $6 million, of ARPA funding for continued COVID-19 response efforts and "unforeseen repercussions of the pandemic, additional financial hardships or unpredictable circumstances."

The full list of ARPA investments in Newton can be found here.