Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates More Than $2.2 Million through Community One Stop for Growth

December 18, 2024

Meggie Quackenbush, Director of Communications
Margaret.M.Quackenbush@mass.gov

LOWELL — Yesterday, the Healey-Driscoll Administration joined state and local officials in Lowell to celebrate awards through Community One Stop for Growth, including $2,230,050 for 37 grants to support economic development projects through the Real Estate Services Technical Assistance Program, Brownfields Redevelopment Fund, and Massachusetts Downtown Initiative.

These grants were included in the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s recently announced $161 million for 313 grant awards to support local economic development projects in 171 communities across the state. The Mass Leads Act, a far-reaching $4 billion economic development bill that Governor Healey signed into law this fall, reauthorizes several programs in the Community One Stop for Growth, including $30 million for Brownfields Redevelopment Fund.

“The Community One Stop for Growth is an essential driver of home-grown economic development in cities and towns across Massachusetts,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We are proud to invest in these projects that will drive business growth, boost housing development, spur job creation, and improve quality of life for our residents.”

“Across the state, so many transformative projects became a reality thanks to the Community One Stop for Growth,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “The Brownfields Redevelopment Fund, Massachusetts Downtown Initiative, and Real Estate Technical Assistance Program are powerful tools that help remove barriers to economic growth in our communities and we are excited to celebrate these programs today.”

“The grants awarded through the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund, the Real Estate Services Technical Assistance Program, and the Massachusetts Downtown Initiative will help unlock key sites for future development and revitalize town centers across the state,” said Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao. “We know that a One Stop award can be a gamechanger at the local level and are excited to see the economic opportunity these grants make possible in the years to come.”

“MassDevelopment is proud to administer the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund and the Real Estate Services Technical Assistance Program,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Navjeet Bal. “By providing grants at these early critical stages and working hand in hand with local partners, we are able to help cities and towns address barriers to growth and achieve their housing and economic development goals.”

The Real Estate Services Technical Assistance Program and the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund are both administered by MassDevelopment. The Real Estate Services Technical Assistance Program provides technical assistance to address site-specific and district-wide economic development challenges. In FY25, the One Stop funded six awards through this program totaling $250,000. The Brownfields Redevelopment Fund transforms vacant, abandoned, or underused industrial or commercial properties by financing the environmental assessment and remediation of brownfield sites. In FY25, the One Stop funded seven awards through this program totaling $1,380,050.

The Massachusetts Downtown Initiative, which is administered by the Executive Office of Economic Development, provides technical assistance to support downtown and town center revitalization. In FY25, the One Stop funded 24 awards through this program totaling $600,000.

“As a former Brownfields Director, I recognize how competitive these programs are,” said Representative Rodney Elliott (D-16th Middlesex). “Lowell’s success in securing these funds underscores the critical need for a unified portal that allows planning and development teams to easily assess project compatibility, One Stop is a vital resource that is essential for municipal growth.”

“These grants promote economic development across the Commonwealth by allowing cities and towns to build more housing, create more jobs, and develop more commercial space. This state-local partnership is vital for Gateway Cities like Lowell as we continue to revitalize the downtown district,” said Representative Vanna Howard (D-17th Middlesex). “I want to thank the Healey-Driscoll Administration as well as Economic Development Secretary Hao and Executive Office of Housing & Livable Communities Secretary Augustus for these much-needed funds.”

Real Estate Services Technical Assistance Awards:

City of Attleboro - $50,000 
City of Attleboro will use this grant to support its Sturdy Area District Plan, a district plan to support redevelopment activities in the area east of Downtown, centered at the intersection of O'Neil Boulevard/Brook Street and Park Street.

Town of Easton - $50,000
Town of Easton will use this grant to support its Municipal Surplus Properties Plan, a plan to support several town owned properties that are expected to become surplus and available for disposition and redevelopment.

Town of Groveland - $20,000  
Town of Groveland will use this grant to support its 150 Center St Request for Interest, a plan to develop and implement a request for interest (RFI) process identifying redevelopment opportunities for a town owned property.

City of Lowell - $45,000  
City of Lowell will use this grant to support its Smith Baker Study, a feasibility analysis to determine if and how a vacant historic city owned property may be reused.

Town of Mansfield - $40,000
Town of Mansfield will use this grant to support its TOD District Improvement Financing, a plan to construct a parking garage to support transit-oriented development including housing.

Town of Westfield - $45,000
Town of Westfield will use this grant to support its Westfield Riverfront District Redevelopment plan for a 4.21-acre area adjacent to recently completed public infrastructure investments.

Brownfields Redevelopment Fund Awards:

City of Brockton - $194,150
The City of Brockton will use this grant on a .34-acre parcel to remove underground storage tanks (USTs) and to address environmental issues in the soil. The parcel is located on the Southern edge of Downtown Brockton and within walking distance of the MBTA Commuter Rail Station.

Town of Hanson - $237,000  
The Town of Hanson will use the grant to address elevated levels of soil contamination at 100 Hawks Avenue Rear, Building 35, a 9.3-acre property located within the current commercial-industrial zone prior to putting the property out for bid.

City of Lynn - $233,900  
The City of Lynn will use the grant to address the removal of soil, debris, and underground storage tanks (USTs) that have been impacted on site. The city plans to have these sites in a better position for redevelopment in the downtown area.

Town of Merrimac - $250,000  
The Town of Merrimac will use this grant on the ongoing cleanup of contaminated soils of the former Coastal Metals site. The Town plans to have the 1.6-acre site developed into affordable housing to support surrounding residential neighborhoods and the downtown business district.

Town of Southbridge - $50,000   
The Town of Southbridge will use this grant for soil and groundwater work, to assess how much is needed to remediate a former mill building. The 1.7-acre site is located in the Globe Village neighborhood of Southbridge. The town plans for the area to be developed into a commercial/restaurant area that supports the local residential neighborhood and businesses.

City of Springfield, Springfield Redevelopment Authority - $165,000 
The City of Springfield will use this grant for Phase I and Phase II environmental assessments of the Vibra Hospital site impacted by asbestos and underground storage tanks (USTs). The City plans for a full remediation strategy to redevelop the site for both commercial and residential development.

City of Taunton - $250,000 
The City of Taunton will use this grant to address environmental remediation needs at the former Bacon Felt Factory, a 3.8-acre parcel adjacent to the Taunton River. The site is impacted by hazardous materials and two vacant buildings. The proposed end use of the site is a mixed-use development with residential development.

Massachusetts Downtown Initiative Awards:

Town of Abington - $25,000  
The Town of Abington will use this grant to create a plan for a placemaking study and determine community priorities.

Town of Athol - $25,000  
The Town of Athol will use this grant for studying the demand for more restaurants in its downtown area and what incentives are needed for the creation of more restaurants.  

Town of Barnstable - $25,000  
The Town of Barnstable will use this grant for studying the creation of a Parking Benefit District and recommend an implementation strategy.

Town of Belchertown - $25,000  
The Town of Belchertown will use this grant to create a multi-mobile signage system to sites within the downtown and adjacent amenities.

Town of Brookline - $25,000  
The Town of Brookline will use this grant to implement Phase II of the creation of a Business Improvement District in Coolidge Corner.

Town of Burlington - $25,000  
The Town of Burlington will use this grant to amend the sign by-law in the town center.

City of Chelsea - $25,000  
The City of Chelsea will use this grant to create design guidelines for three historic districts in the downtown area to ensure that the urban fabric is maintained.

Town of Cheshire - $25,000  
The Town of Cheshire will use this grant for creating a multi-mobile signage system to sites within the downtown and adjacent amenities.

City of Fitchburg - $25,000  
The City of Fitchburg will use this grant to develop a downtown cultural district marketing plan for a cultural district application.

Town of Grafton - $25,000  
The Town of Grafton will use this grant to update a 2012 Grafton Common Traffic Analysis.

Town of Groton - $25,000  
The Town of Groton will use this grant for a retail market analysis in the town center that will be used to create a stronger commercial base and maximize visitor experience.

City of Holyoke - $25,000  
The City of Holyoke will use this grant to assist with Phase I of implementing a Business Improvement District.

City of Lowell - $25,000  
The City of Lowell will use this grant for technical assistance with Phase II of implementing a Business Improvement District.

City of Lynn, Economic Development Industrial Corp. of Lynn - $25,000  
The Economic Development Industrial Corp. of Lynn will use this grant for creating a wayfinding/placemaking system connecting the ferry service to the downtown.

City of Malden - $25,000  
The City of Malden will use this grant to provide a public art plan for the downtown.

Town of Mansfield - $25,000  
The Town of Mansfield will use this grant for creating community-based design guidelines to be used by existing property owners and developers in the town center.

Town of Maynard - $25,000  
The Town of Maynard will use this grant towards its "Road Diet 2025" a conceptual plan and implementation plan to create a more pedestrian oriented Main Street.

Town of Montague - $25,000  
The Town of Montague will use this grant towards creating a regional district management entity.

City of Northampton - $25,000  
The City of Northampton will use this grant for developing a construction mitigation plan to help downtown businesses thrive during a two-year major road reconstruction project of Main Street.

Town of Northfield - $25,000  
The Town of Northfield will use this grant for support in creating a regional district management entity.

Town of Pelham - $25,000  
The Town of Pelham will use this grant to test the feasibility of a town owned parcel in the center as a mixed-use development.

City of Pittsfield - $25,000  
The City of Pittsfield will use this grant to create a public wayfinding plan in the downtown.

City of Revere - $25,000  
The City of Revere will use this grant to create a Shirley Ave parking management plan.

City of Taunton - $25,000  
The City of Taunton will use this grant to provide consultant trainings to downtown building owners on development topics such as filling vacancies on upper floors, and commercial and residential funding.  

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 FY2024, MassDevelopment financed or managed 349 projects generating investment of more than $3.5 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are estimated to create or support 22,426 jobs and build or preserve 1,754 housing units.