MassDevelopment funding mobile art van in Main South, outdoor movies in North Brookfield

September 24, 2020 : Worcester Business Journal, by Monica Busch

MassDevelopment on Wednesday announced $86,415 in Commonwealth Places grants, aimed at boosting local economic recovery in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

Among area recipients are Worcester, North Brookfield and Framingham.

“Commonwealth Places provides much-needed resources to help nonprofits and other partners build momentum in their own communities,” said Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy, in a statement announcing the funding.

Creative Hub Worcester, among the three area recipients, will receive a $5,515 grant to help create a Creative Hub Worcester Mobile Art Van. The van will park at various locations in the city’s Main South neighborhood, with the goal of facilitating free, on-site art projects for those in the community. Grant money will go toward repairing and outfitting the van, covering the program’s startup costs.

Downtown Framingham, Inc. will receive a $10,000 grant to go toward installing outdoor seating, umbrellas and barrier art for cafes at 12 Irving St., as well as two murals at 398 Waverly St. and 10 Pearl St. Funding will also go toward landscaping on Waverly St., according to MassDevelopment.

The third area grant recipient is North Brookfield Town House, which was awarded $9,450 to host a series of free outdoor drive-in movie screenings. Money will cover screening equipment rentals, film licensing, food truck permitting and marketing costs.