Holyoke committee recommends $799,595 in CDBG funds for sewer work, forwards FY2025 CDBG/HOME plan to full council

The Development and Governmental Relations Committee of the City of Holyoke on Feb. 25 recommended directing $799,595 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) non-public-services funds to the Department of Public Works for sewer infrastructure work and forwarded the FY2025 CDBG/HOME annual plan resolution to the full City Council.

The committee's action, taken during a meeting with Office of Community Development staff, came as staff warned that final HUD allocations for the 2025 program year remain uncertain. "We still do not have our final allocations, available from HUD," said Alicia Zolar, an Office of Community Development staff member presenting the draft budget and spreadsheet to the committee.

The recommendation matters because the city must complete and submit its consolidated plan and annual plan even while federal budget and HUD staffing questions remain unresolved. "I'm obligated to submit that to HUD by, by May 14," Zolar said, explaining the timetable that is driving the committee's work and why staff asked for numbers to be filled in now.

What the committee recommended

- Non-public services (infrastructure, housing, public facilities): The committee voted to recommend the full available non-public-services allocation of $799,595 be assigned to the Department of Public Works for sewer infrastructure. The motion to allocate the $799,595 to DPW was offered from the floor and seconded; the committee voted in favor.

- Public services (15% HUD cap): The committee adopted a set of recommended public-service allocations that total $184,522. Those recommended amounts are: Girls Inc. (after-school and summer…