Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates More Than $5.2 Million in Grants Through Community One Stop for Growth
December 17, 2024
Meggie Quackenbush, Director of Communications
Margaret.M.Quackenbush@mass.gov
WOBURN — Yesterday, the Healey-Driscoll Administration joined state and local officials in Woburn to celebrate awards through Community One Stop for Growth, including $5,238,682 for 18 grant awards through the Site Readiness Program.
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 $3 million for the Site Readiness Program.
“Through the Community One Stop for Growth, we are investing in local economic development projects that will spur housing, job creation and economic growth in our cities and towns,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Our administration is proud to collaborate with communities across Massachusetts to advance these important initiatives.”
“The Site Readiness Program is a vital tool that advances economic growth by preparing sites for the development of important housing projects and new community spaces,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We are excited to support 16 communities through this program and help them advance important projects that will spur economic growth.”
“The Site Readiness Program is a powerful economic development tool supports business growth and housing development in Massachusetts,” said Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao. “We are thrilled to celebrate $5.2 million in grants through this program that will unlock the economic potential of vacant and unused sites across the state.”
“The Site Readiness Program helps cities and towns build their economy and grow their tax base by preparing targeted sites for commercial, industrial, and mixed-use development,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Navjeet Bal. “Our team at MassDevelopment is proud to administer these grants and help communities carry out important predevelopment work.”
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.
This year, the City of Woburn is receiving awards through the One Stop for the first time, including a $115,000 grant from the Site Readiness Program and a $100,000 grant from the Community Planning Program. Of the 18 applications awarded, 50 percent are located in a Gateway City, 67 percent are located in an MBTA Community, and 44 percent are located in a Housing Choice Community. Since the program was created in 2017, it has supported 108 projects for a total investment of more than $27 million.
“Woburn has served as an example for our Commonwealth, diversifying the housing stock and encouraging businesses to make the city their home,” said Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington). “This Site Readiness Program grant will help revitalize the New Boston Street area, and in such close proximity to the Anderson Regional Transportation Center, continue the smart and sustainable development of Woburn. I thank Secretary Hao, MassDevelopment, and Mayor Concannon for their leadership and partnership to bring these funds to the city.”
"The Site Readiness Program grant awards are an important investment in the Commonwealth's economic growth and mixed-use development," said Representative Richard Haggerty (D-30th Middlesex). "By revitalizing underutilized properties into development-ready sites, we're not only attracting new businesses to our communities but also ensuring sustainable growth that will benefit our residents. I want to thank the Healey-Driscoll administration and MassDevelopment for their commitment to local economic development, and to congratulate the City of Woburn for their efforts in securing this grant award."
"This grant will offer a significant opportunity to catalyze investments from the private sector. Congratulations to the City of Woburn for securing these funds,” said Representative Michelle Ciccolo (D-15th Middlesex). “The New Boston Street Opportunity will serve as an excellent example of the potential benefits of mixed-use development and public-sector investments in the Commonwealth."
“This initiative is an essential step in creating a long-term vision for the New Boston Street area. Enhancing the quality of life for North Woburn residents and businesses is a top priority for my administration,” said Mayor of Woburn Mike Concannon. “Collaboration with state resources is essential to achieving our goals. We are grateful to the Healey-Driscoll administration and MassDevelopment for their financial support and encouragement as we plan for the future.”
Site Readiness Program Awards:
Madison Park Development Corp, Boston - $450,000
Madison Park Development Corp will use this grant to support a proposed 81,000-square-foot mixed-use development at 639 Warren Street in Boston featuring affordable housing, approximately 56 rental and nine homeownership units, and around 2,400 square-feet of ground floor commercial space, along with community space and management offices.
City of Chelsea - $150,000
City of Chelsea will use this grant to develop a nearly 19-acre brownfield site known as the "Forbes" site.
Town of East Bridgewater - $104,298
Town of East Bridgewater will use this grant towards demolition at the Precise Engineering brownfield site.
City of Fitchburg - $250,000
The City of Fitchburg will use this grant to support the design of water, sewer, and storm drain upgrades of approximately 13 acres of industrially zoned vacant land that was formerly a cross-winds runway at Fitchburg Municipal Airport.
Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority, Fitchburg - $250,000
Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority will use this funding to remove hazardous building materials and demolition of the Putnam Place Power Plant, and support redevelopment of Building III into a conference center.
Rural Development Inc., Greenfield - $100,000
Rural Development Inc. will use this grant toward due diligence activities of 156-186 Main Street Greenfield redevelopment efforts.
The Community Builders Inc., Greenfield - $848,789
The Community Builders Inc. will use this grant for site preparation work of the Putnam Site, which will support 61 units of affordable housing.
Town of Hanson - $70,000
Town of Hanson will use this grant to undertake due diligence and planning activities supporting the development of 212 Industrial Boulevard, a 3.30-acre town-owned lot located within the existing industrial park.
Haverhill Housing Authority, Haverhill - $83,595
Haverhill Housing Authority will use this grant towards the redevelopment of 230 Hilldale Avenue, which will support an affordable rental family development with 34 units on a portion of a 10.74-acre parcel owned by the Haverhill Housing Authority.
Holyoke Redevelopment Authority, Holyoke - $200,000
Holyoke Redevelopment Authority will use this grant to support a blighted and underutilized section of downtown Holyoke to position the area for future investment.
Westmass Area Development Corporation, Ludlow - $500,000
Westmass Area Development Corporation will use this funding to complete the upgrade of electrical systems for 20 6,000-square-foot stock houses in the core of the Ludlow Mill complex to significantly increase their safety, capacity and redevelopment potential.
Needham Housing Authority, Needham - $500,000
Needham Housing Authority will use this grant to support the redevelopment of Linden Street, preparing the site for the development of 136 affordable housing units and 64 net-new units.
New Bedford Economic Development Council, New Bedford - $172,000
New Bedford Economic Development Council will use this grant to support an analysis of build-out potential and associated infrastructure needs to support growth within the existing business park.
American Environmental Building Coalition Corp, North Attleborough - $380,000
American Environmental Building Coalition Corp will use this grant to support various environmental activities required for the demolition of a structurally unsafe building, and ready the site for the development of 80 housing units.
City of Peabody - $65,000
City of Peabody will use this grant towards its Centennial Park Innovation & Growth Plan, a plan that analyzes future growth at Centennial Park, a business and industrial park on the North Shore.
Pittsfield Economic Development Authority, Pittsfield - $500,000
Pittsfield Economic Development Authority will use this grant for design and engineering services for Sites 7 & 8 within the William Stanley Business Park to achieve a pad-ready site.
City of Taunton - $500,000
City of Taunton will use this grant to remove and dispose a portion of Bacon Felt, a vacant mill property.
City of Woburn - $115,000
City of Woburn will use this grant towards its New Boston Street Opportunity area to support mixed-use development, economic growth, and improved livability.
About the Community One Stop for Growth
The Community One Stop for Growth is a streamlined application process overseen by the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) that provides easy access and opportunities 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 offer direct funding and support to 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/onestop.
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.