More than $2 billion in federal aid from the recent COVID-19 relief bill could be flowing to Massachusetts cities and towns. There are a lot of unknowns, but Springfield stands to get a chunk of it.
The Massachusetts Municipal Association estimates the city could receive more than $127 million over the next three years or so.
"That would be a huge boost for the city's finances and allow us to maintain and enhance core services," said T.J. Plante, Springfield's chief financial and administrative officer. "It'd allow us to cover the revenue losses that we've had and that we anticipate in the future."
Plante said the city has lost close to $9 million since the start of the pandemic from sources like permits and excise taxes.
The federal money can also be used to pay for COVID-related costs, to help households and businesses impacted by the pandemic and on water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.
Plante said the city will have to document how the money is spent and is awaiting guidance from the Treasury Department.
While Springfield is expected to get the most money among western Massachusetts communities through the new program, the Franklin County town of Monroe is set to get the least. But it's not complaining.
The community, which borders Vermont, has 115 residents and is only expected to receive around $33,000.
Marcella Stafford-Gore, the administrative assistant for the Select Board, said the impact of COVID-19 on Monroe has been minimal; only one resident has tested positive.
"We didn't have to expend funds to change the way we do business here, because we're so small," she said.
Stafford-Gore said one of the two business in town has taken a financial hit from the pandemic. She's hoping the money could help.
"It's a bar and they've been closed since March of last year," she said.
Stafford-Gore said funding to upgrade infrastructure could also be helpful to Monroe.
