CPA Determination of Eligibility Application Available - Deadline 2/6/15

From: Robert K McCarthy

Councillor Ward One

CPA Determination of Eligibility Application Available

Community Preservation Committee releases FY15 Community Preservation Plan and FY14 Annual Report;

FY15 Eligibility Applications Requested for Submission by February 6, 2015

SALEM, MA - The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) has released its FY15 Community Preservation Plan and FY14 Annual Report.  The Community Preservation Plan is used to guide the CPC’s decision-making when reviewing and recommending projects for Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding.  The Plan includes an overview of the CPA in Salem, evaluation criteria and a timeline.  The plan also serves as an annual report – summarizing the status of funded projects and including copies of the required State reports.

The CPC uses a two-step application process for reviewing funding proposals, beginning with an Eligibility Application.   This application enables applicants to know if their project is eligible under CPA regulations prior to submitting the more comprehensive Funding Application.  Eligibility Applications may be submitted to the CPC at any time.  However, in order to be considered for the FY15 funding round, applicants are encouraged to submit their Eligibility Applications no later than February 6, 2015.  For projects that are determined eligible, applicants will then be invited to submit a Funding Application.  The CPC’s tentative deadline for the receipt of Funding Applications is March 20, 2015.  Submitted applications will be reviewed in accordance with the evaluation criteria and the goal of the CPC is to submit funding recommendations to the City Council in May, 2015. 

CPC Chair Helen Sides stated, "The CPC invites City departments, non-profit organizations, private groups and individuals to propose their ideas for potential projects.  For eligible submissions from applicants who don’t have site control, those project concepts will be forwarded to the property owner for their consideration of submitting a funding application now or in the future.”

 “The CPC made very thoughtful recommendations for FY14 CPA funding and we are beginning to see those projects underway.  During FY15, I anticipate that the CPC will be seeing another group of great applications.” Mayor Kimberley Driscoll stated.

 The CPA was adopted by Salem voters in November, 2012.  It established a local dedicated fund for the purpose of undertaking open space, historic preservation, outdoor recreation and community housing projects.  It is financed by a voter-approved property tax surcharge along with annual matching funds from the statewide CPA Trust Fund. Massachusetts regulations require that a minimum of 10% of annual CPA revenues be set aside or spent for each of three categories: housing, historic, and open space/recreation projects.  The CPC is composed of representatives from the City’s Conservation Commission, Historical Commission, Planning Board, Park & Recreation Commission and Salem Housing Authority, along with appointees from the Mayor and the City Council.

 The FY15 Community Preservation Plan and FY14 Annual Report, FY15 Determination of Eligibility Application and other information on the CPA can be found at http://www.salem.com/Pages/SalemMA_CPC/index.