Springfield Republican: Agawam infrastructure study to benefit from unused COVID funds

03 Mar 2021

By Michael Ballway

One of the many projects put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic, a study of infrastructure needs in North Agawam, is on the docket again.

***

Work at Brady Village was originally budgeted at $275,000 but ended up costing just $150,000 for about 10 buildings, said Christopher Dunphy, principal planner at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. Some of the leftover money will be spent on repairing gutters, but most of it is also available to be repurposed.

Dunphy and Strange said they plan to bring back the original plan of studying infrastructure in North Agawam, with $225,000 to cover both the cost of the study and additional administrative costs.

Part of the infrastructure study is an economic survey of the neighborhood, Dunphy said. His office is planning to mail surveys to North Agawam residents asking them to respond anonymously describing their household size and approximate income. The goal is to show that enough low- or moderate-income people live in the neighborhood to qualify for federal infrastructure grants.

Read the full Springfield Republican article here