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:
- 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;
- For projects on City property, an appropriate City department, Board, or Committee must be a co- applicant.
- Open space or historic resources must be permanently protected, such as with a conservation restriction or historic preservation restriction.
- Public access (if applicable to project);
- 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
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Excellent - 4 |
Good - 3 |
Fair - 2 |
Poor - 1 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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.
