MassDevelopment Invests $26 Million in Downtown Brockton

February 10, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:
Kelsey Abbruzzese, MassDevelopment, 617-330-2086 & 617-448-9077 (cell)
kabbruzzese@massdevelopment.com
Kenan Bigby, Trinity Financial, 617-720-8400
BigbyK@trinityfinancial.com

Through its tax-exempt bond and New Markets Tax Credits programs, MassDevelopment has invested $26.13 million in housing and health center projects in downtown Brockton. The Agency issued a $9.7 million tax-exempt bond on behalf of and provided a $7 million New Markets Tax Credit allocation to Trinity Financial’s Enterprise Block redevelopment; and issued a $9,431,000 tax-exempt bond on behalf of the Brockton Neighborhood Health Center.

“Low-cost, innovative financings like these are crucial to the transformative redevelopment of Brockton,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Marty Jones. “The City of Brockton, Trinity Financial, and the Brockton Neighborhood Health Center are all longtime MassDevelopment partners, and we're pleased to spur economic growth in this Gateway City.”

Trinity Financial, a Boston-based developer that is the project sponsor, will use bond proceeds to build a 42-unit artist live/work apartment building on the site of the former Gardner Building at 62 Centre Street. The New Markets Tax Credit allocation will finance Trinity’s rehabilitation of the historic Brockton Enterprise building, transforming the space into a 51,000-square-foot commercial building with retail space on the first floor. Trinity Financial’s multi-phase, transit-oriented revitalization of the Enterprise Block aims to preserve the historic and cultural heritage of downtown Brockton and promote sustainable mixed-use development that fits with existing infrastructure. The residential component of the revitalization effort includes 113 total units, an artist’s gallery, on-site property management, and an underground parking garage.

“The Enterprise Block redevelopment project is a complicated undertaking that required some very creative and flexible financing in order to come to fruition,” said Trinity Financial Vice President Kenan Bigby. “MassDevelopment’s value was evident, not only in the financial resources that they made available, but also in the thoughtful and collaborative approach that their staff took in making this transaction work. Trinity is excited to see the positive impact that this project will have in the City of Brockton once it is completed.”

Brockton Neighborhood Health Center will use bond proceeds to refinance previous debt, securing a lower interest rate for the Center and freeing financial resources for its healthcare services in low-income areas. MassDevelopment also provided a $25,000 grant to the Brockton Neighborhood Health Center in 2011 through the Agency’s Community Health Center Grant Program. Boston Private Bank purchased the Trinity bond, and RBS Citizens purchased the Brockton Neighborhood Health Center bond.

“We’re thrilled to refinance our debt through the MassDevelopment tax-exempt bond program,” said Sue Joss, CEO of Brockton Neighborhood Health Center. “Our monthly mortgage payments have been cut in half, which will give us additional resources to invest in increasing our services to our patients and to our community.”

MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, works with businesses, nonprofits, financial institutions, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. During FY2013, MassDevelopment financed or managed 350 projects generating investment of more than $2.4 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are projected to create more than 7,000 jobs and build or rehabilitate 800 residential units.