Site Readiness

The Site Readiness Program, administered by MassDevelopment, aims to increase the state’s inventory of large, well-located, project-ready sites; to accelerate private-sector investment in industrial, commercial, and mixed-use projects; and to support the conversion of abandoned sites and obsolete facilities into clean, actively used, tax-generating properties.

Eligible Applicants include municipalities, municipal agencies or authorities, economic and industrial corporations, economic development authorities, and nonprofit entities.

What makes a good project?

MassDevelopment will be accepting applications for funding in the eligible use categories described in the program guidelines and summarized below: 

Site Preparation 

• Site Concept Plans – Including feasibility and planning studies in addition to concept-level master planning.  
• Site Market Studies – Including broker consultation, market analysis, and development of marketing materials. 
• Site Acquisition and Related Tasks – Including costs of property acquisition, title analysis, surveying, and legal fees.  
• Demolition
• Construction of Site-Related Upgrades – Including utilities and roadways. 

Predevelopment and Permitting 

• Engineering Documents – Including design and pricing of on- and off-site access and infrastructure improvements.  
• Pre-Permitting and Permitting – Including assistance in reviewing existing zoning, permitting, or other regulatory issues as well as in undertaking pre-permitting activities. Also includes studies related to specific site issues including traffic, historic resources, rare species, utilities, etc. 
• Pro-Forma Development 
• Due Diligence Activities – Including Phase I environmental review and existing conditions analysis. 

Review Criteria

• Community support for industrial development (43D/Priority Development Area designation may serve as an indicator) 
• Consistency with the existing municipal master plan and/or regional plans 
• As-of-right zoning or an affirmative statement from municipality to seek as-of-right zoning. 
• Regional impact and regional appropriateness 
• Property size and scale of development (the program is targeting a minimum of 50,000 square feet of developable space) 
• Level of potential of private investment on the site 
• Benefits enabled (including new permanent and construction jobs created) 
• Site access (proximity to highways and/or rail)  
• Site control 
• Appropriateness of location (including proximity to housing and known off-site impacts) 
• Marketability of the site (active interest a plus) 
• Availability of matching funds from landowner and/or local contribution (including, but not limited to, tax increment financing or other financial commitments) 

Grant Terms and Conditions

Grantees are required to execute a standard grant agreement. The agreement provides that in most instances, the grant will be repaid from any net land sale proceeds, long-term lease revenue, or refinancing proceeds. If a grant does not result in new revenues, there is no repayment obligation. 

How to Apply

The Site Readiness Program is part of the Community One Stop for Growth, a single application portal and collaborative review process of community development grant programs that makes targeted investments based on a Development Continuum. For those projects selected, MassDevelopment will be part of your team – providing our expertise and project management skills.