Planning

Fy23 Application Cycle has begun!

The FY23 Application Cycle began on Thursday, September 8, 2022 with the Application Technical Workshop (video available here) at the New Bedford Free Public Library Main Branch.  All organizations, city departments, and individuals interested in applying for funding were strongly encouraged to attend this workshop.

The Application Process

Step I – Eligibility Determination Form was due on Thursday, September 29, 2022 by noon. Late submissions were not accepted or reviewed.

Determination of eligibility does not guarantee CPA funding will be recommended for a project, it only determines if a project is eligible under CPA legislation.

All submissions were notified of their eligibility on Friday, October 7, 2022.  Eligible projects were invited to submit the Step II – Project Application. If a project did not submit a Step I – Eligibility Determination Form, a Step II – Project Application cannot be submitted and, if submitted, is not reviewed.

Step II – Project Applications were due on Wednesday, November 9, 2022 by noon.   FY23 applications are available on-line for public review.

Public Presentations – All applicants were invited to present their project before the CPC at a series of Zoom meetings in January 2023.  The public was invited to attend and provide comment. All public comments were due by January 25, 2023.

January 10, 2023 Presentations

January 19, 2023 Presentations

January 24, 2023 Presentations

CPC Recommendations to City Council – The CPC reviewed all applications and voted on February 16, 2023 to recommend 23 projects to the City Council for their review and vote.  City Council can approve a recommendation as submitted; reduce the amount of a recommended award amount; or reject a recommendation. The City Council cannot add funds to a recommended amount nor add a project not recommended for funding by the CPC. Should the Council vote to not recommend a project or reduce the recommended award, the CPC has the opportunity to respond prior to the Council’s final vote on the project.   The FY23 CPA Recommendations to City Council are available here for public review.

HAVE A CPA PROJECT IDEA?

Organizations, city departments, and individuals interested in applying for funding in the FY24 cycle are encouraged to review the FY23 APPLICATION TECHNICAL WORKSHOP POWERPOINT PRESENTATION and the FY23 CPA PLAN & FY22 ANNUAL REPORT . Each document will provide information about the process. If you have any questions regarding CPA, your project’s eligibility, or wish to be included on our email list, please email Jessica Bailey, CPA Manager, at CPA@NewBedford-MA.gov

What is CPA?

The Community Preservation Act (CPA) is a Massachusetts state law (MGL Ch. 44B) designed to help Massachusetts towns and cities plan for sustainable growth and provide funds to achieve their community preservation goals. CPA allows participating cities and towns to adopt a real estate tax surcharge of up to 3% to raise funds, creating a local, dedicated fund. CPA helps communities preserve open space and historic resources; create community housing; and develop outdoor recreational facilities. New Bedford voters approved CPA in November 2014 and adopted a 1.5% surcharge.  These funds are matched annually by the state’s Community Preservation Trust Fund.

CPA funds can be matched by other sources, leveraging funding for projects benefiting the city. To date, over $7.2 million in additional funding has been received by projects funded by New Bedford CPA.

Community Preservation Committee

The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) oversees the implementation of the CPA in New Bedford. It is responsible for assessing the community preservation needs of the city; developing and maintaining the community preservation plan which establishes the city’s preservation priorities; preparing an annual budget for City Council; and making project recommendations to City Council after an extensive application process.

Janine da Silva, Chair

Historical Commission

Melissa Chester-Letendre, Clerk

General Public

Christopher Amaral

General Public

CPA plan

The CPA Plan is a study of the needs, possibilities, and resources of New Bedford regarding community preservation and establishes the CPC’s annual priorities for funding projects.  The plan includes the application instructions and documents for applying for funding.  In addition, it contains the previous fiscal year’s Annual Report.

FY23 CPA PLAN & FY22 ANNUAL REPORT

FY22 CPA PLAN & FY21 ANNUAL REPORT

FY21 CPA PLAN & FY20 ANNUAL REPORT

FY20 CPA PLAN & FY19 ANNUAL REPORT

FY19 CPA PLAN & FY 18 ANNUAL REPORT

For CPA information or questions, email CPA@NewBedford-MA.gov