MassMutual Announces Curb Appeal Program for Springfield Neighborhoods

$150,000 program to help residents improve the external appearance of their homes in State Street corridor neighborhoods.

(Springfield, MA) - Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) announced today the kickoff of a $150,000 “curb appeal” program to improve the exterior appearances of homes in neighborhoods along the city’s State Street corridor.

Under the MassMutual Curb Appeal Program, the company will provide a total of $150,000 – $50,000 per year over the next three years – to income eligible homeowners in neighborhoods along the State Street corridor to improve the exterior appearance of their homes. Residents in these neighborhoods are eligible to apply for a grant for up to $5,000 for a broad range of home improvement purposes, including landscaping, roofing, siding, painting, lighting, or improvements to fencing, porches or entry doors. The program will be administered by Springfield Neighborhood Housing Services (SNHS).

“MassMutual has long been committed to giving back to our community, and this program is a significant extension of that commitment,” said Nick Fyntrilakis, Assistant Vice President, Community Responsibility, MassMutual. “Not only is home ownership a dream for many, but it is also a point of pride. This grant will enable income eligible residents in these neighborhoods to make meaningful improvements to the aesthetic appearance of their property, bolstering the pride they have in their homes and helping to make Springfield a more beautiful place to live.”

The MassMutual Curb Appeal Program extends the company’s commitment to both home ownership and the economic and community development of Springfield. MassMutual offers the Home Ownership for MassMutual Employees (HOME) Program, which provides forgivable loans for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing in Springfield, as well as access to education and training on various aspects of homeownership.

MassMutual has also played a key role in the State Street Alliance, which has developed a plan to improve the business district along the State Street corridor. The neighborhoods selected as part of the program were chosen based on their close proximity to State Street. “MassMutual continues to be committed to the redevelopment of the State Street corridor. In order for this effort to be successful, it is imperative that support be provided to the adjacent neighborhoods and its residents,” said Fyntrilakis. “We’re confident that this program will add to the significant progress already made in State Street’s redevelopment efforts.”

Charles Rucks, Executive Director, SNHS, noted that MassMutual’s grant helped SNHS secure an additional $600,000 in funding to assist city residents in achieving homeownership. “This program clearly extends SNHS’s goal to help transform families and revitalize distressed neighborhoods through sustainable homeownership, rehabilitation and recycling of blighted properties, and empowerment of our city’s residents,” said Rucks. “We thank MassMutual for their continued generosity and look forward to working with neighborhood residents that are committed to their homes and our city.”

Eligibility requirements for the MassMutual Curb Appeal Program include:

- Applicants must meet established income guidelines, which is 110 percent of median income for residents of Western Massachusetts.
- The homeowner must reside in the property for which the funds are being used.
- The homeowner must agree to maintain improvements made for the property for a period of at least five years.
- Homeowners who reside in eligible sections of the Central, Maple High/Six Corners, Old Hill, Bay, Upper Hill and Hill McKnight neighborhoods are eligible to apply.
- The funds under the MassMutual Curb Appeal Program can be combined with other home improvement funds available through the SHNS.