News and Events
Tornado Relief Efforts
At the request of Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, DevelopSpringfield and the Springfield Redevelopment Authority have formed a public-private partnership, which will plan and manage a comprehensive multi-year effort to rebuild all sections of the City affected by the June 1 tornadoes. Key stakeholders, including the business community and neighborhood groups, will be consulted throughout the planning and management process.
View the official City of Springfield press release
View "100 Day Tornado Recovery Update" presentation
Community Rebuilding Fair
Date: Wednesday, September 28
Time: 4pm - 8pm
Place: High School of Commerce, 415 State Street, Springfield, MA
Refreshments and onsite childcare will be provided.
- Donwload Fair flyer (English)
- Donwload Fair flyer (Spanish)
- Donwload MassMutual LifeBridge program flyer
A grocery store would satisfy inner-city hunger
Supermarket developers have shied away from opening stores in downtown and inner-city locations over the last few decades as the nation’s population migrated from urban centers to the greener pastures of the suburbs.
DevelopSpringfield Advancing Redevelopment in Springfield Nearly $100,000 Already Provided for Storefront Improvements
View Press Release {PDF}
DevelopSpringfield identifies State Street location for possible supermarket in city
DevelopSpringfield has identified a city block on State Street as a good location for a supermarket boosters think would provide food and jobs to the troubled neighborhood.
DevelopSpringfield shows off results of State Street storefront improvement
DevelopSpringfield showed off the results of its Corridor Storefront Improvement Program Thursday just a block away from the State Street location it’s identified as a good spot to build a new supermarket.
Springfield businesses eligible for $1 million for improvements
New agency created to drive economic development, revitalization
SPRINGFIELD [October 28, 2009] – Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno today announced that $1 million in grants are available to fund storefront improvements along the entire length of State and Main streets. The grants are available through the Corridor Storefront Improvement Program (CSIP), a project of DevelopSpringfield Corporation, a new private agency that was introduced by Mayor Sarno today.
Through the CSIP, DevelopSpringfield will help businesses and property owners fund exterior improvements such as the restoration of architectural details, painting, window and door replacement, signage, lighting and other façade improvements. The program’s objectives are to improve the physical appearance of businesses and enhance commercial districts along these two principal urban corridors. Eligible businesses could receive grants of up to $10,000 to improve the exterior appearance of their buildings or property. Business owners will be required to match 25 percent of the total grant with their own investment toward improvements.
The CSIP is being funded by public and private monies. The City of Springfield is contributing $499,000 and private funds totaling $501,000 have been raised to match the City’s funding. Private contributors include Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) $276,000; Liberty Mutual $100,000; Springfield Business Development Corporation $100,000; and the State Street Alliance $25,000.
“DevelopSpringfield will provide the City an effective partnership with the private sector to advance development and redevelopment projects in Springfield,” said Sarno. “Over the past year the City has been working with the private sector to put forward an entity that would not only complement the City’s public-sector development vehicles like the Springfield Redevelopment Authority, but have the proper tools for today’s development demands. This organization provides proper public sector linkage enabling it to play a critical role in bricks and mortar redevelopment.”
“DevelopSpringfield will pursue a broad range of development opportunities as our objective is to stimulate and support economic growth and speed up the revitalization process in the city of Springfield,” said Nicholas A. Fyntrilakis, Chairman of DevelopSpringfield – and also Assistant Vice President, Community Responsibility at MassMutual. “We will address the City’s need to redevelop sites, revitalize areas, and spark economic growth and prosperity.”
DevelopSpringfield will focus on quality revitalization strategies that have a high probability of success such as the storefront improvement program. The new organization has a 13-member board of directors including representatives from the city, state, and local business community.
The Western Massachusetts Enterprise Fund (WMEF) will administer the CSIP, offering independent oversight to ensure timely application processing, compliance with program requirements, and appropriate grant monitoring and reporting. In addition, DevelopSpringfield will closely collaborate with the Springfield Business Improvement District, the State Street Alliance, the New North Citizens Council, the South End Revitalization Coalition and other neighborhood and business groups on outreach to prospective CSIP participants.
Interested businesses may learn more about and apply for the grants by contacting WMEF at (413) 420-0183 Ext. 107 or CSIP@wmef.org.
