GRANT AWARD-Local Rapid Recovery letter-City of Northampton
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 300 www.mass.gov/dhcd
Boston, Massachusetts 02114 617.573.1100
February 1, 2021
Honorable David Narkewicz
Mayor
City of Northampton
210 Main St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Dear Mayor Narkewicz:
On behalf of Governor Charles D. Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn E. Polito, I am pleased to inform
you that the City of Northampton will receive technical assistance from the Massachusetts
Downtown Initiative’s (MDI) Local Rapid Recovery Planning program. We recognize that the
impacts of the COVID-19 health emergency have dramatically affected local businesses. Your
efforts to explore solutions and projects to help revitalize businesses in your community are an
effective way to plan for economic recovery. Congratulations and thank you for this effort.
The timing for the Rapid Recovery planning under the MDI program has shifted to allow the
planning to extend beyond June 30, 2021. We expect the process will take place over an
approximate 5-month period starting in late February. You will be matched with a consultant or
regional planning agency that will facilitate the plan. You may also get one-on-one support from
specific subject matter experts depending on the needs of your community. In addition to the
one-on-one technical assistance you will receive, there will be a series of webinars to introduce
you to the Rapid Recovery Planning process.
If you have any questions concerning this designation, please contact Emmy Hahn, MDI
Coordinator at Elizabeth.hahn@mass.gov.
Once again, I congratulate you on Northampton’s successful application for the Local Rapid
Recovery Planning program to address the impacts of COVID-19 on your business community.
Sincerely,
Jennifer D. Maddox
Undersecretary, DHCD
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Charles D. Baker, Governor Karyn E. Polito, Lieutenant Governor Jennifer D. Maddox, Undersecretary