New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
“NEW BEDFORD – The City of New Bedford’s Community Preservation Committee has voted to recommend 21 projects to the New Bedford City Council for a total of $2.2 million in FY24 funding through the Community Preservation Act.
The recommended CPA funding supports projects in areas including community housing, recreation and open space, and historic resources.
The Committee received applications for 22 projects during the FY24 CPA application cycle, seeking almost $3 million. In deciding how to allocate the $2.2 million in available CPA funds, the Committee weighed priorities in the FY24 Community Preservation Plan, whether the proposals could achieve full or partial funding through CPA support, and which proposals best met CPA criteria.
The Committee recently submitted the FY24 CPA Funding Recommendations to the City Council, which has the final authority to award CPA funds and approve projects as recommended, approve projects at reduced funding levels, or reject projects. Should the City Council vote to reject or reduce funding for a recommended project, the Committee will have an opportunity to respond and/or adjust the project’s scope or terms prior to a final decision by the City Council.
Below are the projects recommended for FY24 CPA Funding:
Recreation/Open Space
• Boys & Girls Club Playground Expansion – $35,000
• City Wide Signage for Parks – $275,000
• Riverside Park Heat Island Relief Project – $50,800
• Roberto Clemente Park Improvements – $185,000
• YMCA Renovation – $40,000
Historic Resources
• Cape Verdean Ultramarine Band and Club – $25,000
• City Clerk Record Restoration Phase III – $50,000
• Digitization of Maritime Records Phase III – $13,200
• First Baptist/Steeple Playhouse Exterior – $60,000
• Howland Family Portrait Conservation – $65,000
• JAMI Mansard, Dormers, Cornice Restoration – $95,000
• Johnson House Electrical System – $85,000
• NB Fishing Heritage Center Archives Phase II – $30,000
• NB Superior Court Façade Restoration – $285,000
• Rotch-Jones-Duff House Securing History – $23,500
• Strand Theater Restoration – $225,000
• Underground Railroad Café and Gallery – $25,000
• William H. Carney Lodge #200 – $25,000
Community Housing
• Capitol Theater Interior Restoration – $250,000
• Talbot Apartments – $255,000
• YWCA Residential Services – $102,500
For more information on the CPA program and the FY24 projects, visit www.newbedford-ma.gov/planning/community-preservation.
About the Community Preservation Act
New Bedford voters adopted the CPA through a ballot question in November 2014. The statewide enabling legislation allows communities to create dedicated funding for projects that support open space, outdoor recreational facilities, historic preservation, and affordable housing activities in the City.
Oversight of this process rests with the Community Preservation Committee, the body established by the City to oversee the CPA program in New Bedford.
Since FY18, the Committee has recommended, and the City Council has approved, 101 grants totaling more than $10.3 million in CPA funding for projects that have preserved historic resources and open space, created community housing opportunities, and improved and created recreational facilities throughout the City. In addition, these grants have enabled organizations to leverage an additional $12.4 million in funding from private foundations, state and federal governments, and other sources.” -City of New Bedford.
