Community Preservation Projects Sought

SALEM, MA - The next round of funding for Community Preservation Act projects is now underway.

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.

The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) has released its FY16 Community Preservation Plan and FY15 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 a brief 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 FY16 funding round, applicants are encouraged to submit their Eligibility Applications no later thanJanuary 4, 2016. 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 18, 2016. 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, 2016.

“The CPC is pleased to begin the next CPA funding round. Many of the projects that were awarded funding in the previous rounds have now been completed and several more are well underway, ” said CPC Chair Kevin Cornacchio.

“In the first two funding rounds the CPA in Salem has funded twenty-three projects ranging from $15,000 to $135,000,” said Mayor Kim Driscoll. “CPA is instrumental in undertaking much needed housing, historic resource, and open space and recreation land activities in Salem.”

The CPA 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.