MassDevelopment awarded $330,000 to fund developments across 14 town and cities
December 17, 2021 : The Gardner News, by Aqueel Hisham
The Massachusetts Development Finance Company recently awarded $330,000 in funding for fiscal 2022 through its Real Estate Service Technical Assistance program to address economic challenges.
The funds were distributed to 14 cities and towns including Gardner and Fitchburg.
MassDevelopment’s Real Estate Service Technical Assistance program was created in 2017 and has since awarded $1.37 million to help 39 communities advance their economic development goals through 41 projects. The funding for fiscal 2022 was announced in July when eligible organizations applied for funding ranging from $5,000 to $50,000.
For fiscal 2022 projects, MassDevelopment said it is using in-house experts and contracts with consultants – working closely with municipal officials, planners, local stakeholders and others to address priority planning and development projects.
Fiscal 2022 Real Estate Service Technical Assistance awarded projects
Awards each town and city received are as follows:
Town of Abington – $25,000
City of Attleboro – $5,000
City of Brockton – $25,000
Town of Buckland – $10,000
City of Fall River – $20,000
City of Fitchburg – $45,000
Town of Foxborough – $25,000
City of Gardner – $10,000
City of Greenfield – $25,000
City of Lynn – $55,000
Town of Montague – $35,000
City of Revere – $10,000
Town of Seekonk – $25,000
City of Taunton – $15,000
Lynn
The highest amount of $55,000 was awarded to the city of Lynn, where $5,000 will be used as an effort to coordinate state and local agencies to identify a path forward for viaducts located under the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Commuter Rail in downtown Lynn.
The remaining $50,000 will be used to fund a district masterplan to support the redevelopment of the former Whyte’s Enterprise Laundry site located at 83 Willow St. as well as increase investments at other public and private parcels on the strip.
Attleboro
The lowest award of $5,000 was given to Attleboro. The city plans to use the money for a preliminary analysis of the reuse and restoration of the East Attleboro Academy Building located at 28 Sanford St., constructed in 1842. The building is the last remaining of the original village of Attleboro and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Gardner
Gardner plans to use its award of $10,000 for a study to support District Improvement Financing (DIF) that will address sewer infrastructure needs across non-contiguous areas including downtown and the Mill Street Corridor Urban Renewal Areas.
This is Gardner's second award this year. The first was for $4.1 million granted by MassWorks Infrastructure Program in late November to pay for improvements to water, sewer, electric utilities and the second phase of the city’s Rear Main Street Revitalization Project, which will result in 52 new housing units.
Fitchburg
Fitchburg will use its $45,000 award to repurpose the former Wanoosnoc Road School building located at 44 Wanoosnoc Road. The city will assess existing conditions of the building and engage the community to determine the best use of the property to develop a competitive RFP for its redevelopment.
“The Baker-Polito Administration is committed to helping communities achieve their economic development goals,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy, who serves as chair of MassDevelopment’s Board of Directors. “MassDevelopment’s Real Estate Services Technical Assistance program is one of the many tools available to cities and towns in Massachusetts looking to revitalize key properties and improve their downtowns.”
“By offering access to our in-house expertise and range of consultants, MassDevelopment’s Real Estate Services Technical Assistance program helps cities and towns move the ball forward on important economic development projects in their communities,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera. “The projects receiving awards today will advance housing and job creation, property redevelopment and increased vibrancy in our downtown neighborhoods.”
Beginning next year, the program will be part of Community One Stop for Growth, a single application portal and collaborative review process for community and economic development grant programs that make targeted investments in communities.
