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All proposed projects must be eligible for CPA funding according to the requirements set forth in the law before further consideration can be given.

Requirements for all projects:

  1. Consistency with the Community Preservation Plan, Open Space and Recreation Plan, and other planning documents related to community preservation that have undergone a public planning process;
  1. For projects on City property, an appropriate City department, Board, or Committee must be a co- applicant.
  1. Open space or historic resources must be permanently protected, such as with a conservation restriction or historic preservation restriction.
  1. Public access (if applicable to project);
  1. For projects related to housing development or rehabilitation, CPA funds can only be used to support the creation of units that are affordable to income-eligible households.

Comparative Evaluation Criteria

  • Projects will be recommended for funding following an evaluation of the merits of both the proposal and its proposed costs. When there are multiple project proposals submitted in the same funding cycle, projects will be compared with one another in order to determine which projects, if any, would earn CPAC recommendation. All recommendations and actual awards are subject to the availability of CPA funds and approval by the City Council.
  • Proposals that address more than one CPA eligible purpose; leverage additional funding, involve collaboration of more than one agency, organizations, board or committee; or otherwise show a comprehensive, community centered, multidisciplinary approach, will be given highest consideration.
  •  Applications that present a thorough description of the project with as many details as possible, have significant support from other City Boards/Committees and present a comprehensive, well described and reasonable budget will have the greatest likelihood of success. Budget requests must be thorough because there will not be an opportunity to change the budget amount after submission to the CPAC.
  • When a proposal meets the statutory requirements, the CPAC may rate projects using the following factors. The final decision of the CPAC on a project is based on the vote of the committee, and such rating criteria are a guide for the committee in its decision making:

 

Holyoke CPC Scoring Criteria

 

Excellent - 4

Good - 3

Fair - 2

Poor - 1

Goals Alignment

Strong alignment with  specific

 CPC goals and priorities

General alignment with CPC 

goals and priorities

Weak alignment with CPC goals and priorities

No alignment with CPC goals

 and priorities

Benefit to

 the City

Project would immediately improve citizens’ quality of life and/or expand the city’s tax base

Benefit likely to be realized in the future for the city as a whole or for a priority cross-section of citizens

Benefit may not be  realized by many people

The argument for benefit is not convincing

Public

 Support

Multiple letters of support,  positive public comment, and  project planning involved broad public support

Multiple letters of support  and positive public  comment but reflects limited public input or a narrow band of stakeholders

Public comments are mixed, but on balance supportive and there is at least one letter of support

No letter(s) of support and/or  more public comments oppose than support the project

Supporting Documentation

Applicant has done exceptional due diligence to obtain estimates and provide detailed explanation and supporting documents

Due diligence is clear and  documentation is  adequate (including a letter from the Historic Commission for non-city Historic projects)

Information provided  is not clear or is lacking

Project description or budget is not backed up by credible detail or is  not documented

Project Feasibility

The applicant demonstrates  capacity, and has obtained  the approvals, funding, or  other resources so that with CPA funding the project is  ready to proceed within a reasonable timeframe

Resources, funding, and  approvals are likely to be put in place after or as a  result of a  CPC funding  commitment

It is not clear whether  the applicant will be  able to obtain the resources and  approvals needed to  complete the project

It appears unlikely that the  applicant will be able to  obtain the funding and  approvals necessary to complete the project within a reasonable timeframe

Sources of funding

CPA fills a partial funding gap  or provides a local funding  match that would not  otherwise be available, enabling a project which  leverages funds from other sources

CPA funds enable a project  for which other funding  sources are not available

CPA funds contribute toward a project for which other sources of funds are available and which utilizes funds from  at least one other source

CPA is the sole source of  funding for a project for which other sources of funds may be available

Restrictions and Contractual Processes

The applicant is  knowledgeable and willing to follow requirements (i.e. restrictions, guidelines of the Dept. of the Interior) and contractual processes

Knowledge of and willingness to follow requirements and guidelines is likely

The applicant has demonstrated some areas of misinformation or concerns about following necessary requirements or processes

There are significant concerns that the applicant may not be willing or able to follow restrictions or contractual processes

 

  • Additional criteria will be taken into consideration on a case-by-case basis, including lifetime cost or environmental impact, and the amount of funding requested relative to the CPA funds available.