EASTHAMPTON – The city of Easthampton received $1 million in CARES Act funding.

Through the Coronavirus Relief Fund, the CARES Act provides assistance to state, local, and tribal governments to help navigate the impact of COVID-19.

Mayor Nicole LaChapelle said the city will use the money for basic functions such as software to promote online transactions, working from home, PPE supplies, business relief and support. They are also looking into purchasing vehicles to make sure people can access where they need to go. For example, the vehicles will transport seniors from the Council and Aging center to their appointments.

The funding will allow them to hire grant-funded staff to help monitor COVID-19 while everyone else gets back to where they need to be. LaChapelle said she believes that tracking the virus is key or else they’re going to fall behind and won’t be able to rebuild.

The mayor added she is making sure that the city receives all of their reimbursement dollars. “I put together a working group to make sure that the city is receiving every possible dollar,” said LaChapelle. The group consists of the acting fire chief, city treasurer, School Department business manager, and the president of the City Council.

She explained that it is important that the group tracks their reimbursement dollars because they already have holes in their budget from the pandemic. As the city moves forward with spending the money, every reimbursement dollar is important because it gets Easthampton as close to whole compared to last year.

“We need to get back and serve in the highest level,” said LaChapelle.