In the Press
In the Press
Celebrating freedom with joy: Amherst’s 16th Juneteenth Jubilee showcases music, culture and resilience
Published by: amherstbulletin.com
Date: 23 June 2025
Black business group presses demand for Amherst relief funds
Published by: Gazzetnet.com
Date: 25 March 2024
A Black-owned business organization is continuing its campaign to elicit financial support from the town, including money that it claims was unfairly withheld from those who run shops in town and needed the funds to recover from the pandemic.
Black business association contests Amherst’s final $3.8M in ARPA spending
Published by: Gazzetnet.com
Date: 21 March 2024
Black-owned business owners and supporters made a final appeal to the Town Council this week for $1.5 million of the $3.8 million in remaining American Rescue Plan Act money, though it appears that money is being directed to other purposes.
Opinion: Distribution Of ARPA Funds In Amherst Was Not Equitable
Published by: amherstindy.org
Date: 22 December 2022
The Black Business Association of Amherst Area (BBAAA) calls upon Amherst town leaders to engage with local Black business owners who did not receive locally distributed ARPA funding or who were confused about how to apply for it through the Business Improvement District (BID) and the Chambers of Commerce.
Black Business Association finds racism and corruption in the allocation of federal aid
Published by: dailycollegian.com
Date: 9 May 2024
The Black Business Association of Amherst Area (BBAAA) is calling for Town Manager Paul Bockelman to resign amid continuing efforts to get federal aid distributed to Black owned businesses.
Black business group in Amherst says it did not get fair share of ARPA funding
Published by: masslive.com
Date: 23 March 2024
The Black Business Association of Amherst Area is calling for the resignation of Town Manager Paul Bockelman for not allocating pandemic relief money to Black-owned businesses.
BBAAA calls out Amherst BID on counts of racial discrimination
Published by: archives.thereminder.com
Date: 14 February 2023
On Dec. 29, 2022, the Black Business Association of Amherst Area (BBAAA) recently expressed dissatisfaction with the Amherst Business Improvement District’s choice of awardees in the most recent round of American Rescue Plan Act funding, saying that the BID was discriminatory against black-owned businesses.
Juneteenth celebrations animate Amherst on Saturday, Wednesday
Published by: amherstbulletin.com
Date: 13 June 2024
Celebrations to mark Juneteenth, the day in 1865 when the last American citizens in Galveston, Texas were informed that slavery was abolished, are scheduled for both Saturday and on the federal holiday itself.
Congressman McGovern Lends Voice To Black Business Leaders’ Application For Local ARPA Dollars
Published by: amherstindy.org
Date: 7 July 2023
U.S. Representative Jim McGovern met with affiliates of the Black Business Association of Amherst Area (BBAAA) on July 6 at BakuCare Adult Day Health in Hadley. The Congressman expressed his support for BBAAA to receive local ARPA funds and said he would reach out to local officials.
President of Black Business Association Calls for Resignation of Town Manager
Published by: amherstindy.org
Date: 22 March 2024
Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman presented his spending plan for distributing the remaining $3.8 million of the $11.9 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the Amherst Town Council at their meeting on Monday, March 18, 2024.
Letter: White-Owned Businesses Unfairly Received The Bulk Of Town’s ARPA Funds
Published by: amherstindy.org
Date: 21 July 2023
I raised concerns about bias and ethics regarding the allocation of ARPA funds to the business community last summer of 2022, but some of you and the BID/DAF director doubled down on the narrative that the ARPA funds were distributed from an “equity lens” and that “marginalized business owners” were awarded 95% of the funds.
Black Business Association calls for resignation of Amherst town manager
Published by: amherstindy.org
Date: 22 March 2024
Members of the Black Business Association of Amherst Area (BBAAA) coming together today to speak up about what they say is an unjust distribution of ARPA funds.