Transformative Growth Grant Helping Local Businesses In Arlington

ARLINGTON, MA — The Transformative Growth Grants Program, funded by the Town of Arlington’s allocation from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and administered by the Department of Planning and Community Development, is helping local businesses and nonprofits that were impacted by COVID-19.

Twenty-two nonprofit organizations and small businesses representing a variety of industries disproportionately affected by the pandemic were selected to receive a total of $860,900 in grant funds for placemaking, programming, facilities and infrastructure, personnel, or organizational growth projects.

The town reached out to these businesses to learn about how this funding has affected their businesses. Here is what some of them had to say.

“ARPA funds made it possible for ACA's board and staff to work with professional consultants on the development of a 5-year strategic plan focused on ensuring financial sustainability, increasing organizational capacity, and optimizing programs that serve an annual audience of 15,000 people” said Tom Formicola, Executive Director of Arlington Center for the Arts.

“It is enabling us to develop a new program that will support the advancement of lower income women who work in healthcare,” said Lisa Chiulli Lay, Board President and CEO of Lamplight Women’s Literacy Center.

“This grant makes it possible for us to reach further locations, improve services to our customers and have more people taste authentic, healthy, tasty Mediterranean food. With the support of this grand and upgraded refrigerated delivery backbone, we have increased our wholesale locations from 22 to 32 and serving radius,” said Atilla Ozkefeli of Magic Bites Bakery & Cafe.

"The Transformative Growth Grant funding enabled us to significantly upgrade and replace our lighting and staging (and other parts of our infrastructure) so as to present a better, more robust performance space, and improved overall experience for our community - the audience, performers, and presenters," said Leland Stein, co-owner, Director of Marketing, and Book Manager of Regent Theatre. "It was timely, too, as we presented (among others) two-time 2023 GRAMMY-award winner Samara Joy last December, and rising star Debo Ray. In addition, the new emergency exit within the orchestra near the stage helps provide for a more accessible and safer environment for all."

“ARPA makes it possible for me to rebuild Thai Moon and come back to serve the Arlington community and neighboring towns nearby. Without the grant, it would be extremely hard to bring the business due to the high inflation and ongoing impacts from the pandemic,” said Tammy Cusanno, one of the owners of Thai Moon.

“We at YourArlington are deeply grateful for our grant,” said Bob Sprague, founder of YourArlington, a hyperlocal news website. “The grant money allows us to marshal the resources necessary to do more in-depth coverage including addressing the ramifications of the pandemic on numerous facets of the community including public schools, first responders, arts, crafts and businesses."

For more information about the Transformative Growth Grants Program, email [email protected].