WORCESTER – Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao and Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus announced over $161 million in grant awards for local economic development projects through the Community One Stop for Growth program.
Officials made the announcement in Worcester on Thursday at the site of the Greendale Revitalization project.
“This program enables projects like housing development, downtown revitalization, job creation, infrastructure improvement, and community empowerment that are critical to Worcester and municipalities across the Commonwealth,”
Grants awards to projects in Worcester County are:
- Worcester – Technocopia Collaborative Workspace Program – $46,000
- Technocopia will use this grant to expand and enhance its makerspace facilities by purchasing new equipment and making necessary electrical upgrades, aiming to improve capacity, safety, and support of more advanced creative projects.
- Worcester – Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission – Community Planning Grant Program – $125,000
- CMPRC will use this grant to conduct a planning study to reconnect historically disadvantaged communities with economic opportunities. The study will look at increasing accessibility options while improving the safety, air quality, mobility and health outcomes of Vernon and Union Hill neighborhoods in Worcester.
- Worcester – Worcester Housing Authority – HousingWorks Infrastructure Program – $3,500,000
- The Worcester Housing Authority will use this grant to make site improvements and the creation of public open space in Phase II of the Curtis Apartments redevelopment project, including the expansion and improvement of Great Brook Valley Ave and Tacoma St with new subsurface utility connections, new rights of way, and improved pedestrian circulation to the new residential buildings.
- Worcester – City of Worcester – MassWorks Infrastructure Program – $2,800,000
- City of Worcester and NGP will use this funding to redevelop a ~51-acre industrial campus in Greendale, resulting in approximately 1 million square-feet of modern manufacturing space to the area.
- Worcester – City of Worcester – MassWorks Infrastructure Program – $1,000,000
- City of Worcester and AHF will use this funding to revitalize the Worcester Auditorium, creating a multipurpose, technology-forward, entertainment facility and AI Innovation Center.
- Worcester – Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District Inc. – Urban Agenda Grant Program – $100,000
- Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District Inc. will use this grant to support expansion of the Out to Lunch Festival and Farmers Market, extending the season from six to 10 days and increasing the number of vendors and foot traffic, which will create additional economic opportunity for local farmers and vendors.
- Clinton – Town of Clinton – MassWorks Infrastructure Program – $760,000
- Town of Clinton will use these funds toward the Phase I Downtown Clinton Stormwater Improvements Project, which will make tactical improvements to stormwater infrastructure protecting property, places of employment, vital transportation networks, and essential community resources. The project will also revitalize Bigelow Spinning Mills which will create of 207 apartments and 37,000 square-feet of commercial space.
- Douglas – Town of Douglas- Community Planning Grant Program – $115,000
- The Town of Douglas will use this grant to update its 1998 Master Plan.
- Fitchburg – Fitchburg Public Library – Collaborative Workspace Program – $100,000
- The Fitchburg Public Library project will use this grant to renovate and expand the Wallace Library to include a new children’s library, learning center, and a Makerspace. The Makerspace will feature modern technology and tools to support workforce development, STEAM education, and community collaboration.
- Fitchburg – City of Fitchburg – Community Planning Grant Program – $150,000
- The Cities of Fitchburg and Leominster will develop a regional Housing Production Plan.
- Fitchburg – City of Fitchburg – HousingWorks Infrastructure Program – %330,000
- The Fitchburg and Fitchburg Housing Authority will use this grant to improve the streets and sidewalks at Green Acres to support existing and anticipated housing growth via survey, final design, and permitting.
- Fitchburg – City of Fitchburg – Massachusetts Downtown Initiative – $25,000
- The City of Fitchburg will use this grant to develop a downtown cultural district marketing plan for a cultural district application.
- Fitchburg – City of Fitchburg – Site Readiness Program – $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 – Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority – Site Readiness Program – $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.
- Fitchburg – Watch Us Grow LLC – Underutilized Properties Program – $875,408
- Watch Us Grow LLC will use this grant to redevelop eight market-rate apartments and one retail space on the ground floor at 347 Main Street.
- Fitchburg – Prime Real Estate Investment LLC – Underutilized Properties Program – $839,000
- Prime Real Estate Investment LLC will use this grant to convert the second and third floors of the Bethel Building into 14 two-bedroom and two one-bedroom apartments.
- Gardner – City of Gardner – HousingWorks Infrastructure Program – $3,500,000
- The City of Gardner will use this grant to continue construction on the North project, a part of the “Rear Main Street Revitalization” project, to transform a vacant area into a vibrant public space by improving water, sewer, and drainage infrastructure, along with associated parking, to support a private development 45-unit multi-family market rate residential project.
- Grafton – Town of Grafton – Massachusetts Downtown Initiative – $25,000
- The Town of Grafton will use this grant to update a 2012 Grafton Common Traffic Analysis.
- Leicester – Cherry Valley & Rochdale Water District Rural Development Fund – $130,000
- Cherry Valley & Rochdale Water District will use this funding for engineer design services of approximately 6,100 feet of new 12-inch diameter water main to replace aging, undersized infrastructure on Pleasant Street and Stafford Street.
- Shrewsbury – Town of Shrewsbury – Housing Choice Grant Program – $500,000
- The Town of Shrewsbury will use this grant to design a new connector road from South St to Green St near Route 20 that will support the Route 20 widening and a proposed 300-unit 40B development at 33-69 Green St.
- Southbridge – Town of Southbridge – Brownfields Redevelopment Fund – $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.
- Southbridge – Town of Southbridge – MassWorks Infrastructure Program – $2,700,000
- Town of Southbridge will use this grant to complete repair on two bridges on Mill Street in 2026, between Main Street and River Street.
- Southbridge – CENTRO – Urban Agenda Grant Program – $100,000
- CENTRO will use this grant to support its Re-Building Futures program, providing economic and financial empowerment training, job readiness, and on-the-job-training to economically disenfranchised individuals.
- Spencer – Town of Spencer – MassWorks Infrastructure Program – $1,100,000
- Town of Spencer will work with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and the Spencer Water Department (SWD) to upgrade the Route 9 water main infrastructure.
- Spencer – Town of Spencer – Rural Development Fund – $440,000
- Town of Spencer will use this grant to reduce infiltration in sewer collection systems on North Street and Grove Street.
- Westborough – Town of Westborough – MassWorks Infrastructure Program – $372,000
- Town of Westborough will use this funding towards a 25 percent engineering design for Westborough’s downtown area focusing on traffic analysis, parking solutions, bicycle facilities, EV-charging stations, impact analysis, and public engagement.
Image Credit: Greendale Revitalization Initiative/ Facebook
