5 Things You Need to Know Today in Worcester - June 11

June 11, 2021 : This Week in Worcester

In today’s daily 5 Things You Need to Know feature, ThisWeekinWorcester.com explores five important items and stories that Worcester and Central Massachusetts residents should keep a close eye on.

These five things can cover a whole range of subjects and issues that we feel are pertinent to understanding what’s going on in the city and the cities and towns surrounding Worcester.

In today’s edition – Friday, June 11 - Worcester's Black Heritage Juneteenth Festival is on Saturday, the Regional Environmental Council Summer Markets return, MassDevelopment issues grants to Main South Community Development Corporation, the Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District is hosting a community meeting today on summer event plans in Worcester, and there's a block party coming to Main Street next weekend.

MassDevelopment Issues $60,000 to Main South CDC

MassDevelopment awarded $390,000 in grants to nine organizations to implement outdoor dining, business signage improvements, district branding and marketing plans, placemaking and wayfinding projects, public events, and more through locally developed business assistance programs in Gateway Cities.

The grants were awarded through MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) Local program.

Among the grant is $60,000 to the Main South Community Development Corporation.

The CDC will use $30,000 to implement a branding and marketing plan, which was funded and managed by the Worcester TDI Partnership, to improve wayfinding and district perception. It includes funding printing and installation of banners for light poles on Main Street, decals for local businesses, printing and associated stands for neighborhood maps, and street signage pointing towards district assets.

The remaining $30,000 to complete a large storefront improvement program that will remake the facades of neighborhood the 818-830 Main Street block.