Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates Nearly $8.5 Million in Grants Through the Community OneStop for Growth
Site Readiness Program and Rural and Small Town Development Fund to Support Nearly 30 Grants to Communities Across the State
December 5, 2023
TURNER FALLS — Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration joined state and local officials in Turners Falls to celebrate awards through the state’s Community One Stop for Growth, including 10 grants totaling $2.9 million through the Site Readiness Program and 17 grants totaling $5.4 million through the Rural and Small Town Development Fund.
In October, the Administration announced $164 million for 338 grant awards through the One Stop to support local economic development projects in 161 communities across the state.
“Across Massachusetts, in communities large and small, there are countless local and regional economic development projects that can put our state on a path towards a more affordable and competitive future,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We are proud to work with municipalities, including rural and small towns, as well as business and nonprofit partners to invest in projects that will make our communities more vibrant while growing our state economy.”
“The One Stop is an essential tool that helps put shovels in the ground and accelerate economic development across Massachusetts cities and towns,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Through the Site Readiness Program and the Rural and Small Town Development Fund, we are helping nearly 30 communities drive progress on key projects that will have a significant impact on their local and regional economies.”
“The Community One Stop for Growth provides important resources to help cities and towns bring their economic development goals to life,” said Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao. “We are proud to invest more than $8.5 million in projects that will support key rural projects and ready properties for development across the state.”
“The proposals awarded through this year’s round of Community One Stop for Growth have the power to be transformative for neighborhoods and entire communities,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera. “The Site Readiness Program grants will invest nearly $3 million to help overcome barriers to commercial, industrial, and housing development and make projects feasible.”
The Site Readiness Program, which is administered by MassDevelopment, was established to help municipalities and nonprofit economic development entities advance prime sites for large-scale industrial and commercial use. The funding will be used for a variety of predevelopment work, including feasibility studies, master planning, design and engineering, and site preparation. Since the program was created in 2017, it has supported 80 awards for a total investment of more than $19 million.
The Rural and Small Town Development Fund was created in 2021 and is available to communities with populations equal to or less than 7,000 and/or a population density of less than 500 people per square mile. The Fund supports a wide range of projects, including the design and construction of physical infrastructure, the rehabilitation of existing structures, site preparation, and community planning and zoning projects.
"I am delighted that the town of Montague is receiving One Stop funding to help revitalize its downtown and further the passionate economic development work of local officials," said Senator Jo Comerford. "Thank you to the Healey-Driscoll administration for recognizing the unique needs and opportunities in small towns."
“The Town of Montague is pleased to share in this celebration of the Commonwealth’s commitment to its municipalities,” said Montague Town Administrator Steve Ellis. “The Town looks forward to applying its $500,000 Rural and Small Town Development grant to implement improvements that will reduce the occurrence of combined sewer overflow events, protecting Connecticut River water quality and public health. Likewise, we will apply our Site Readiness program grant of $132,700 to a riverfront reclamation project in Montague’s historic Canal District. This grant will fund a demolition design for the distressed Strathmore Mill, a critical first step in the transformation of this unsafe, blighted corridor into a regional recreational attraction. The Town is grateful for the responsiveness of the Governor’s Office and the Executive Office of Economic Development to these compelling needs.”
Site Readiness Program Awards:
Town of Belchertown – $281,000
The Town of Belchertown will use this grant for planning and analysis work related to 10 acres of land expected to become part of a future development area known as Parcel D. Funds will be used for a site survey, preliminary site plan, opportunities and constraints analysis, and appraisal.
Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation, Boston – $835,700
Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation will use this grant to support a roughly 78,000-square-foot mixed-use project in Upham’s Corner in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood that will include 48 units of affordable housing and the adaptive rehabilitation of the historic Dorchester Savings Bank building as commercial space for an arts-oriented tenant. Funds will be used for demolition and site improvements including grading, shoring, drainage, and other work.
Town of Chatham – $175,000
The Town of Chatham will use this grant to support the development of an estimated 50 units of affordable housing on a 3.5-acre parcel of town-owned land. Funds will be used for the design and engineering of a site access road, intersection and infrastructure improvements, and construction cost estimating.
USS Massachusetts Memorial Committee Inc., Fall River – $588,832
USS Massachusetts Memorial Committee Inc. will use this grant to support mooring facilities and public access to four historic retired naval vessels at the Fall River State Pier. Funds will be used for engineering and design services for the replacement of the deteriorated wood-pile pier and accompanying utilities.
Town of Hanson – $98,826
The Town of Hanson will use this grant to support the redevelopment of a 7.38-acre tract of vacant land that abuts the town’s industrial park. Funds will be used to establish existing wetland resource areas, soil conditions, and potential lot yield and subdivision design.
Town of Montague – $132,700
The Town of Montague will use this grant to advance the design for the Turners Falls Canal District Riverfront. The work funded by this grant will allow for implementation of a planned mixed-use Canal District which has properties designated for hydropower, light manufacturing, and up to 80 units of housing at the southern end of the district.
Town of Provincetown – $180,000
The Town of Provincetown will use this grant to support site preparation for a proposed affordable housing development. Funds will be used to excavate and remove an in-ground septic system and other subsurface infiltration components from a town-owned parcel.
City of Revere – $275,000
The City of Revere will use this grant to support master planning for an envisioned mixed-use development at the 35-acre Wonderland Park located directly across Route 1A from the MBTA’s Wonderland station.
CENTRO, Worcester – $40,000
CENTRO will use this grant to explore the development feasibility of three underutilized lots for an estimated 32 units of low-to-moderate-income rental housing.
New Garden Park Inc., Worcester – $250,000
New Garden Park Inc. will use this grant to develop pad sites at the Greendale Revitalization project that are currently encumbered by utilities. Funds will be used to assist with the removal of a gas line that is impeding future development.
Rural and Small Town Development Fund Awards:
Lake Wallace Sensory Trail Phase 2, Belchertown – $470,000
This fully-accessible trail links to the town's schools, Carriage Grove, Lampson Brook Farm, and a recreation area, next to Christopher Heights assisted living and pending 100-unit mixed housing by Brisa Builders and near a possible second affordable housing project negotiated by private entities. Phase 2 will connect back to Carriage Grove's housing.
North State Road (Route 8) Water Project, Cheshire – $472,600
This project is a replacement of 3,000 feet of undersized and compromised waterline for the towns public water distribution system. The waterline to be replaced runs along North State Road (Route 8) between Arnold Court and Eastview Drive.
Colrain Sewer District Feasibility and Engineering, Colrain Sewer District – $500,000
The Colrain Sewer District is seeking funding for a feasibility and engineering study to determine a long-term solution for managing wastewater and to develop preliminary engineering and cost estimates to implement a recommended solution
Ipswich Multifamily Zoning, Ipswich – $45,500
This funding supports Ipswich’s continued planning efforts to prepare for the adoption of an as of right multifamily zoning district.
Lancaster Housing Production Plan Update, Lancaster – $46,600
Funding will be used to update the town’s housing production plan to make sure it meets the needs of the community.
Main Street LED Decorative Lights, Lee – $250,800
The Town of Lee currently has 120 decorative "acorn" style light fixtures that were installed approximately 30 years ago. The light fixtures have deteriorated over time and need restoration as well as upgraded energy efficient fixtures with smart technology.
Leicester Master Plan, Leicester – $150,000
This project supports the update of Leicester's Master Plan, which was last completed in 2009. This will result in a finalized plan that incorporates all of the changing dynamics and new acquisitions of the town that have occurred in the 14 years since the original plan was created.
Avenue A CSO and Buffer Line Improvements, Montague – $500,000
This project includes raising the Avenue A Combined Sewer Overflow weir to allow more flow to enter the buffer line before an overflow occurs.
Sandisfield Road Culvert, Monterey – $446,000
This project will focus on replacing an undersized and aging culvert constructed of mismatched material, increasing capacity for storm water and potential beaver dam failures upstream. The funds will be used to excavate and install a new culvert, blacktop the construction area, and improve safety features.
Cassilis, New Marlborough – $500,000
Cassilis, a well preserved, roughly 11,000 square foot house built in 1890 in the Town of New Marlborough, will be converted into eleven units of affordable housing. The main house and connecting annex will be divided into three two-story units and eight flats, ranging from one to three bedrooms. Funding will be used to install a sprinkler system, replace windows, and install HVAC systems.
All-Island Affordable and Community Housing Zoning, Martha's Vineyard Commission – $20,000
The study will compare and comprehensively analyze all zoning bylaws relating to the creation and preservation of affordable and community housing across the six Martha’s Vineyard towns. It will include a robust recommendations section with model bylaws that may be adapted by individual Island towns to meet their needs.
Site Preparation of 66&76 Route 6A, Orleans – $500,000
Orleans intends to redevelop a former motel site into affordable and attainable housing. The project site was acquired by the Town after the previous owners indicated their intent to cease their motel operation. Grant funds will be used toward the cost of demolition work needed to prepare for future development.
Shank Painter Road Zoning Study, Provincetown – $100,000
This grant supports the creation of a development plan in line with the community’s vision for the Shank Painter neighborhood: a vibrant mixed-use gateway neighborhood that promotes commercial development at the street level with opportunities to add housing above the storefronts. The project coincides with a 2024-2025 state and federally funded Transportation Improvement Project that will reshape Shank Painter Road to become a Complete Street.
Yankee Road Reconstruction, Rowe – $350,000
Funding supports the reconstruction of the road that leads to a former nuclear power plant and current storage site for spent nuclear fuel rods. The road is limited to one lane and is rapidly degrading. This grant is paired with a $400,000 MassWorks award to fund the project.
Ware Millyard Re-Development Plan, Ware – $95,000
This grant supports the creation of a redevelopment plan for the Ware Millyard, an asset that has fallen into disrepair over several decades and presents an enormous economic development opportunity for the town.
Otis Street Improvement Project, Warren – $400,000
Funding will support infrastructure improvements along Otis Street, including water main replacement, storm drainage system, and roadway and sidewalk improvements.
Westminster Master Plan Update, Westminster – $153,500
The funding provided will support the update of the Town of Westminster’s master plan, including an abridged version of the plan that highlights goals and strategies.
About the Community One Stop for Growth
The Community One Stop for Growth is an annual program overseen by the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) that provides a streamlined process for cities and towns to apply for 13 state grant programs administered by EOED, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, and the quasi-public agency MassDevelopment. Programs in the One Stop fund economic development projects related to community capacity building, planning and zoning, site preparation, building construction, infrastructure, and housing development. To learn more about the One Stop, visit www.mass.gov/guides/community-one-stop-for-growth.
About MassDevelopment
MassDevelopment, the state’s development finance agency and land bank, works with businesses, nonprofits, banks, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. During FY2023, MassDevelopment financed or managed 545 projects generating investment of more than $2 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are estimated to create or support 10,522 jobs and build or preserve 1,583 housing units.
