Town Issues Requests for Proposals for Community Development Block Grants

The Town of Amherst is eligible to apply to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) as a 2025 Mini-Entitlement community to receive HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for eligible activities that provide benefit to low- and moderate-income households living in Amherst—defined as earnings below 80% of the area median income.  The town is eligible to apply for up to $950,000 in funding, of which a maximum of 20% ($190,000) can fund social service activities. Fifteen percent can go to administration, and the remaining 65% can be used to improve housing for low- and middle-income households through the non-social service application. The CDBG Advisory Committee encourages applicants to contact town staff prior to submission of applications to discuss eligibility requirements. Applications are due Monday, February 3, 2025 at 12 p.m. All activities must be completed within 18 months (October 1, 2025 – March 30, 2027).

After holding a public hearing on November 18, 2024 to receive input on the Community Priorities, the CDBG Advisory Committee determined that the town’s social service priorities for 2025 are:

Community priorities for social services are to maintain a balanced approach among:

• household (family and individual) stabilization; 
• support services for those experiencing homelessness; 
• youth development; 
• services that help develop economic self-sufficiency (adult education & job training); 
• food and nutrition programs; 
• low-cost accessible comprehensive health services/insurance navigation; 
• support services for seniors; and 
• transportation services.  

The nonsocial service priorities are to continue meeting the goals of the community’s Master Plan, community development strategy, and community priorities by focusing efforts on target areas (areas in which 51% or more of residents are low- and moderate-income) including the Town Center, East Amherst Village Center, and the East Hadley Road/Pomeroy Village Center. Examples for nonsocial service use of CDBG funds are acquisition of property that is deteriorated or inappropriately developed from the standpoint of sound community and growth, installation of features that promote energy efficiency, removal of barriers to mobility and accessibility, and payment to housing owners for losses of rental income to be used for relocation of displaced individuals and families, among others. 

The CDBG Advisory Committee and town staff will evaluate the applications and make recommendations at a meeting on February 24, 2025. A public hearing to gather input from residents will be held on March 13. The resulting recommendation for projects to be funded will be sent to the EOHLC office in Boston by the April 14 deadline. 

Project application will be judged on need, community involvement and support, project feasibility, and project impact. Each proposal must serve a majority of low- and moderate-income residents, be an eligible activity as defined by HUD, meet sustainable development principles, address the identified community priorities, is in a target area, and is proposed by an agency with at least five years’ experience in providing services.

All applicants are encouraged to contact town staff before submitting an application to ensure that the proposal meets the criteria of EOHLC and the priorities of the town. Contact person is Senior Planner Nate Malloy at malloyn@amherstma.gov or 413-259-3322.  Applications may be downloaded here for the non-social service application and here for the social service application.