Citing an effective turnaround strategy, Holyoke Receiver/Superintendent Anthony Soto recommended in a December 21 letter to the state Education Commissioner “that the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education begin the transition to exit receivership in a careful and highly planned manner.” In his letter to Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley, Soto outlines the turnaround plan drawn … Continued
HOLYOKE — A Hanukkah observance organized by Congregation Sons of Zion will be held at Holyoke City Hall, 536 Dwight Street, on Thursday, December 7, at 5:30 p.m. The public is invited. This eighth annual celebration at City Hall will include the lighting of the Menorah, speakers, songs, and refreshments. There will be dreidels and … Continued
The Holyoke City Council is seeking candidates interested in serving on the Community Preservation Committee, the committee that oversees grant funding through the Community Preservation Act. Information on the responsibilities of the CPC and instructions on applying can be found through the link below. Submissions should be sent to Personnel by November 30th. Candidates will … Continued
HOLYOKE— The long-awaited first phase of improvements at Holyoke’s historic Anniversary Hill Park is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, November 15. This stage of work includes the creation of a new accessible trail corridor and burial of overhead utilities. Also, among the first phase of improvements, are creation of a new utility corridor and … Continued
HOLYOKE – As the City of Holyoke’s Office of Planning and Economic Development (OPED) continues to find ways to support small businesses and local entrepreneurs, the need for creative capital solutions was imperative. Through the state’s Urban Agenda Grant, OPED staff was able to work with Third Eye Network, who had also been the consultant … Continued
The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) recently notified Holyoke officials that they will provide additional reimbursement for the new middle school construction project. The Owner’s Project Manager (Anser Advisory) has estimated the additional funding will be approximately $11.7 million, which would bring the MSBA’s total contribution to an estimated $57.6 million. This would reduce the … Continued
The following is a proposed supplemental budget for FY24 on its way to the City Council for approval (note: these figures are subject to change until final vote of the City Council). Proposed FY24 Supplemental Budget Consolidated Budget Workbook The updated figures are based on current revenue and expense projections to-date including revenue figures from … Continued
HOLYOKE — Mayor Joshua A. Garcia has released his public safety plan — “Ezekiel’s Plan / Operation Safe Streets” — named after the unborn child who died October 7 in a shooting incident on Maple and Sergeant Streets. “Holyoke is a compassionate city,” Garcia stated in the plan’s Executive Summary, “but that commitment to compassion … Continued
HOLYOKE — The City of Holyoke ARPA Small Business Code Compliance Program is opened and accepting applications. This program offers financial assistance to those businesses in need of code compliance updates to resume or continue operations. The City of Holyoke has allocated $800,000.00 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support small businesses with … Continued
Statement from Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia regarding Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) consent decree: A new federal court judgment reduces the Holyoke sewer construction costs from over $170 million in the original partial consent decree to $35 million through 2035. This was a true team effort that allowed the city to effectively make its case … Continued
