Dozens of local organizations received $352,772 Ad-Hoc Grant, part of ARPA fund

By Brian Bahia On Aug 6, 2023

The City of Lowell announced the recipients of their first round of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Ad-Hoc Grant program. This grant initiative is a one-time grant program overseen by the City’s ARPA Finance Team, in conjunction with City officials and other departments. $352,772 in funding for Ad-Hoc grants were awarded to 12 applicants. Funding of this round will be used to support a wide variety of projects and programs that address economic recovery efforts for Lowell residents, including: mental health support, homelessness, social equity, diapers and clothing for children, cultural enrichment, food security, youth sports, green initiatives, and substance abuse recovery.

Lowell Mayor Chau, councilors Kim Scott, Erik Gitschier, Paul Ratha Yem, Wayne Jennes, Rita Mercier, Dan Rourke, and grant recipients. Photo supplied.

“The recipients of this grant program have displayed an unwavering commitment to the well-being of our city’s residents,” said City Manager Thomas A. Golden, Jr. “With this crucial support, our community can take decisive steps towards rebuilding and revitalizing our local economy. The City Council is committed to bringing about meaningful change in our economic recovery efforts, ensuring a brighter and more prosperous future for all.”

The Ad-Hoc Grant program is a reimbursement funding opportunity to inspire unique, yet lower cost projects and/or service programs, which support the community, but would potentially fall outside of traditional grant opportunities, and/or any other ARPA-funded grants. Additionally, the objective of the project must meet the ARPA program objectives (as outlined by the U.S. Treasury) and be aligned with Lowell’s ARPA initiatives.

ARPA Finance Manager Brendan Flynn noted, “There are so many organizations in Lowell that do such great work within the community, and the ARPA team is just thrilled to be part of the process of getting these funds out to them.”

The City of Lowell allocated a total of $500,000 of ARPA funding for the Ad-Hoc Grant program, with a maximum award amount of $30,000 per application. In total, the City received 27 applications requesting $795,000 in funds.

A complex review process was established to measure applications against local and federal requirements, eligibility, and grant program goals. Factors such as community need, tangible impacts, measurable outcomes, and proper documentation were part of the review process to ensure grant recipients met eligibility requirements.

The first round of Ad-Hoc Grant recipients are as follows:

Lowell Youth Leadership Program, Inc. – $30,000 for LYLP 2023 Summer Camp
Lowell Summer Music Series (Lowell Festival Foundation) – $27,587 for Free Pops Orchestra Concert at National Park
Lowell Folk Festival (Lowell Festival Foundation) – $30,000 for Lowell Folk Festival Recycling Program
Bridge Club of Greater Lowell (Troubled Waters Inc.) – $30,000 for Bilingual Recovery Coaching
Greater Lowell Family YMCA – $30,000 for Mental Health Support for Children
Lowell Junior High Athletics – $30,000 for Fee-Free Student Sports
Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Inc. – $28,185 for the Lowell, Come to the Theatre Initiative
Lowell Alliance (YWCA of Lowell) – $27,000 for the Lowell Diaper Bank
Merrimack Valley Food Bank – $30,000 for Operation Nourish
Refuge Lowell – $30,000 for Lowell Equitable Arts Education
Eliot Presbyterian Church – $30,000 for the Eliot Day Center
Catie’s Closet, Inc. – $30,000 for Stabilizing Lowell Families through Increased Access to Basic Needs

Next, the department will focus on finalizing the second round of the Ad-Hoc Grant program, as well as the Facilities, Rehabilitation, and Renovation Grant program. For more information, visit the City of Lowell’s ARPA Team webpage: https://www.lowellma.gov/1574/American-Rescue-Plan-Act, or send an email to ARPA@lowellma.gov.

The City of Lowell was awarded over $75 million by the federal government to assist with the ongoing pandemic recovery effort. A dedicated ARPA team, functioning through the City Manager’s Finance Department, is managing the City’s ARPA funding with a focus on community, compliance, and transparency to residents through the online ARPA Dashboard: https://city-lowell-ma-budget-book.cleargov.com/8250. As they become available, you can access new online grant opportunities in English, Khmer, Portuguese, and Spanish on the City’s ARPA Grant Opportunities page: https://www.lowellma.gov/1755/ARPA-Grant-Opportunities-Page.