Baker-Polito Administration Announces Over $2.3 Million in Grants Through Site Readiness Program
March 28, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Colleen Arons (HED) – colleen.arons@mass.gov
Kelsey Schiller (MassDevelopment) – kschiller@massdevelopment.com
CHICOPEE — March 28, 2019 – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration awarded over $2.3 million for 10 projects in its third round of Site Readiness Program awards. The Site Readiness Program provides vital resources to municipalities, developers, and community development corporations to overcome obstacles to developing otherwise prime locations.
The 10 grants awarded today will finance feasibility studies, master planning, environmental work, strategic land acquisition, and site improvements, resulting in critical additions to the Commonwealth’s inventory of large, development-ready sites.
“As companies relocate, expand, and start up in Massachusetts, it’s critical to ensure they have the space they need to grow,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The Commonwealth’s Site Readiness Program helps municipalities and their partners develop pad-ready sites that attract investment and create jobs in communities across the Commonwealth.”
The funding round was announced today by Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito during an event at Westover Airport.
“Each of today’s grant recipients has a unique plan to transform an abandoned or underused parcel into a new hub for economic activity,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “We are pleased to provide this third round of Site Readiness funding, and look forward to the potential it will unlock for key sites across the state.”
The Site Readiness Program aims to boost the Commonwealth’s supply of large, well-located, project-ready sites; accelerate private-sector investment in industrial and commercial projects; and support the conversion of abandoned sites and obsolete facilities into clean, actively-used, tax-generating properties. It was created as part of the 2016 Economic Development Bill, which authorized $15 million for the program to be administered by MassDevelopment. The first two grant rounds included $3.4 million to 26 projects in almost every region, increasing the development potential of 1,885 acres across the Commonwealth. The Baker-Polito Administration announced it would make $2.5 million available for the third round of the program in October 2018.
