Written public comments on CPA needs and opportunities received by September 30, 2024 will be incorporated into the 2025 CPA Plan. Email to cpc@springfieldcityhall.com or postal address Community Preservation Committee, Springfield City Hall, 36 Court Street Springfield, MA 01103.
The Springfield Community Preservation Committee offers two separate grant programs. The first is our annual grant process and the second is a program offered for homeowners who live in historic districts. Please make sure you're using the correction application for the desired program.
Applications for the annual Community Preservation Act grants are now closed for the 2024 cycle. Please check back in January 2025 for next year's deadlines. Communiity Preservation Act grants are for projects in the following catagories 1) Open Space 2) Recreation 3) Community Housing 4) Historic Resource. We don't expect the 2025 application to change signficantly. View the 2024 application instructions.
The Historic Home Restoration Program (HHRP) offers grants to homeowners who live in the following Local Historic Districts: Quadrangle-Mattoon, Forest Park Heights, McKnight, Maple Hill, Lower Maple, Ridgewood and Colony Hills. Program funds can be used for exterior items only and includes the restoration of original windows and doors, purchase and installation of energy efficient storm windows, restoration of porches, exterior carpentry repairs, exterior painting, roofs, chimney and other masonry work. The program was approved again this year and a new lottery is expected to be held sometime in late 2024. *Note* If you've submitted a previous application, it remains on file and will be entered into the next lottery. Applications may be filled out anytime up to the deadline when the next lottery date is posted.
Grantees who have been awarded funding in a previous cycle are eligible to apply again but must skip a cycle before reapplying.
If you think you may qualify, fill out the Online Preliminary Application and View Full Guidelines
The Community Preservation Act (CPA) was created in September 2000 by state law (MGL Chapter 44B). It allows cities and towns to adopt a property tax surcharge to help fund projects that preserve the character of the community. Springfield voters adopted the CPA on November 8, 2016 and it went into effect on July 1, 2017. In Springfield, the CPA fund is created via a 1.5% surcharge on real estate taxes for residential, commercial, and industrial properties.
CPA funds can be used for Open Space & Recreation, Historic Preservation, and Community Housing. The Department of Revenue (DOR) Community Preservation Fund Allowable Spending Chart is a handy quick reference to see if your project qualifies. The Community Preservation Coalition is a statewide resource and offers a detailed look at allowable uses. See the list below for CPC projects funded in prior years. To view the application for a particular funded project send an email to klee@springfieldcityhall.com
In accordance with Chapter 267 of the Acts of 2000, a Community Preservation Committee shall be established. In Springfield, a nine-member committee implements the process to recommend project grants to the City Council for approval. The Community Preservation Committee (SCPC) members are appointed from each of the commissions below in addition to three neighborhood appointees by the City Council President. See Springfield Chapter 16 Boards,Commissions and Committees.
SCPC members serve a three year term and may be reappointed.
A vacancy on one of the commission seats is filled by that respective commission.
A vacancy for a neighborhood representative seat is appointed by the Springfield City Council President. When a vacancy occurs, the President contacts the neighborhood councils/associations (found here: Neighborhood Councils: Community Development, City of Springfield, MA (springfield-ma.gov) and requests they submit a candidate who is interested in serving on the Community Preservation Committee. The President then makes a selection from the submitted candidates and appoints the new member. The new member is sworn-in by the City Clerk. When there is an upcoming open seat, it will be posted here. There are no vacancies at this time.
YES! Households that qualify for low-income, or low or moderate-income housing, as defined by M.G.L. c. 44B, Section 2 are exempt from the CPA surcharge in its entirety. Next deadline for exemptions is 4/1/23
The Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS) database (inventory) has surveyed properties compiled by the Massachusetts Historic Commission (MHC) http://mhc-macris.net/
You can search local historic properties through the 1939 Works Progress Administration (WPA) https://www.springfieldpreservation.org/wpa/
YES! The Secretary of the Interior's Standards has an extensive website for treatment of historic properties https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards/treatment-guidelines-2017.pdf
Any work on historic properties requires a petition to the Springfield Historical Commission.
Springfield and its Neighborhoods 2019 (Census Data)
City of Springfield Open Space & Recovery Action Plan 2015–2022