PATRICK ADMINISTRATION MAKES APPLICATIONS FOR FOURTH ANNUAL ROUND OF MASSWORKS INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM AVAILABLE

PATRICK ADMINISTRATION MAKES APPLICATIONS FOR FOURTH ANNUAL ROUND OF MASSWORKS INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM AVAILABLE

BOSTON – Monday, June 2, 2014 –Housing and Economic Development Secretary Greg Bialecki today announced that the fourth round of the annual MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant program will be open to new applications online between June 1 and August 29, 2014.

The MassWorks Infrastructure Program provides a one-stop shop for municipalities and other eligible public entities seeking funding to support housing, economic development and job creation. In addition, the Program also supports municipalities with a population of 7,000 or less that may seek grants for road improvements to enhance safety.

The 2014 grant round will support housing or commercial growth opportunities that contribute to the long-term strength and sustainability of Massachusetts with a particular emphasis on projects that support the production of multi-family housing in appropriately located mixed-use districts or that support economic development in weak or distressed areas. The MassWorks Program encourages communities to apply for projects where they have planned ahead for such growth by implementing prompt and predictable permitting and zoning that supports the desired growth.

The materials for the fourth round of grants and the electronic application system were put online June 1, 2014, giving public entities a 10-week head start on gathering information they need to apply for these grants in August. A copy of the 2014 application, guidelines, FAQs and other relevant materials are available at http://mass.gov/hed/massworks. All data submitted during the 2011, 2012 and 2013 grant rounds will be available to previous applicants for updating, making reapplying easier. All decisions will be rendered within approximately eight weeks.

In total, the past three grant rounds of the MassWorks Infrastructure Program have assisted over 100 projects with over $180 million in infrastructure improvement projects in all areas of the Commonwealth.

The first competitive MassWorks grant round was held in September 2011. In the latest round, the Administration approved 33 projects worth over $79 million.

The MassWorks Program represents six capital budget programs that were consolidated by the Patrick Administration in 2011 and codified by the Jobs Bill signed by Governor Deval Patrick in August 2012. To learn more about the MassWorks Infrastructure Program and how it is supporting job growth and long-term, sustainable economic development, please visit: http://mass.gov/hed/massworks.