AMHERST — The town is accepting proposals for $850,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding available to support the mission of social service agencies and complete capital projects benefiting low- and moderate-income families and neighborhoods.

Through Feb. 3 at noon, the town is taking applications from individuals, nonprofit organizations, private companies and municipal officials interested in using a portion of the CDBG grant for endeavors that will improve the quality of life for residents. Amherst is receiving the block grant from the state’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities after being designated a mini-entitlement community.

Last year, the town divvied up $925,000, with $185,000 shared by five social service agencies, the maximum number that can be supported with CDBG money, and $540,000 going toward building a quarter-mile-long multiuse path to serve pedestrians and bicycles in North Amherst, and $15,000 for Valley Community Development’s microenterprise assistance program for low- and moderate-income resident business owners.

The latest funding has to be used between Oct. 1, 2025 and March 30, 2027. The maximum that can be allotted for social services is $170,000 and the maximum available for non-social services, and up to three projects, is $552,500. The remaining money would go toward administration.

The CDBG Advisory Committee held a public hearing in November that identified target areas for projects, including those parts of town where more than half of residents are low and moderate income. They including downtown, East Amherst village center and a section from East Hadley Road, where several apartment complexes are located, to Pomeroy village center. 

For social service priorities, the committee agreed to maintain objectives, including assisting with household stabilization, supporting services for those experiencing homelessness and for youth development, covering food and nutrition programs and providing support services for seniors.

Laurie Millman, executive director of the Center for New Americans, told the committee that the priorities are sensible because they address a spectrum of interconnected services with a balanced approach.

“Not everyone is enduring any one or all of those challenges, but supporting each of them is a nice holistic community approach to well being, and to me it makes sense,” Millman said.

In the past, the Center for New Americans has used CDBG financial support in Amherst to teach three classes in English for speakers of other languages, conduct online evening classes and various citizenship courses.

 Other recipients in the 2022-2023 grant cycle also provided updates o n how the money is being used.

Amherst Survival Center Executive Director Lev BenEzra said that while the 20-month contract called for serving 3,000 low- and moderate-income residents, the food pantry will instead likely help 5,000 residents, with a million meals. BenEzra said 70% more people are using the food pantry now than during the peaks of the COVID pandemic.

“We’re very grateful for the support we receive from Amherst CDBG and the other donors and the other partners and sponsors we work with that make our work possible,” said Big Brothers Big Sisters Executive Director Susan Nicastro.

Laura Reichsman, program director at Family Outreach of Amherst, said her organization helped 117 households and 319 residents avoid homelessness and cover rental arrears, while Tim McCarthy, executive director at Craig’s Doors, said the money went toward funding a housing navigator to help those in shelter and others find homes.

Full requests for proposals for both social service and non-social service projects can be found online at www.amherstma.gov/CDBG and those interested in making a funding request are encouraged to contact Senior Planner Nate Malloy at malloyn@amherstma.gov or 413-259-3322.   

The CDBG Advisory Committee will review applications and make recommendations Feb. 24, with a public hearing set for March 13. The application package is due to the state on April 14.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.