Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates Nearly $17 Million in Grants through the Community One Stop for Growth  Underutilized Property Program and Commonwealth Places Program to Support 48 Projects Across Massachusetts

FALL RIVER, Mass. — Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration joined state and local officials in Fall River to celebrate awards through the state’s Community One Stop for Growth, including $16,552,817 in grants through the Underutilized Properties Program and $375,000 in grants through the Commonwealth Places Grant Program.   In October, the Administration announced $164 million for 338 grant awards through the One Stop to support local economic development projects in 161 communities across the state.  “Our state’s economic competitiveness depends on whether we can move fast to increase housing, help businesses grow, and strengthen downtowns and commercial centers,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These grants will unlock economic potential in cities and towns across the state by accelerating the mixed-use redevelopment of underutilized properties and creating vibrant public spaces.”  “The Community One Stop for Growth is the state’s most important tool to help communities achieve their economic goals and spur development,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We are excited these grants will help developers, nonprofit partners, and municipalities advance important projects that address housing shortages, eliminate blight, and stimulate local economies.”  “Building strong local and regional economies is an essential part of our goal to create a state economy that benefits everyone,” said Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao. “We are thrilled that the local partners behind these 48 projects will receive the boost needed to unlock hundreds of thousands of square feet of property and activate placemaking projects that the public can enjoy.”  “These grants are an investment not only in individual projects but in the economic future of dozens of communities across Massachusetts,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera. “Breathing new life into underused buildings and public spaces creates space for much-needed housing, benefits new and existing businesses, and increases foot traffic within downtowns and commercial areas.”  The Underutilized Properties Program, which is administered by MassDevelopment, targets underutilized, abandoned, or vacant properties by supporting efforts that eliminate blight, increase housing production, support economic development projects, or increase the number of commercial buildings accessible to individuals with disabilities. This year’s awards will fund improvements to 38 properties in 27 communities. Since the program was created in 2021, it has supported 69 awards for a total investment of nearly $30 million.   Also administered by MassDevelopment, Commonwealth Places provides funding to support place-based, locally driven placemaking projects in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts throughout Massachusetts. This year’s awards will support nine placemaking projects. Since the program was created in 2016, it has supported 132 awards for a total investment of nearly $3 million.  “I’m thrilled to see this infrastructure investment into the Fall River Downtown District,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues, Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Over $1.25 million will go towards the continuing revitalization of Fall River’s commercial office space, retail, affordable housing, and arts and cultural events. The impact of these investments will be long lasting, and substantial for one of the Commonwealth’s most prominent Gateway Cities.”   “Fall River will benefit greatly from this funding that will continue the revitalization of our city. This funding will help develop much-needed housing as the entire Commonwealth faces a housing shortage, while also investing in the arts and culture with a focus on our strong Portuguese culture,” said Representative Carole A. Fiola. “Thank you to the administration for administering these programs that help revitalize our cities.”  “These awards provide Fall River the opportunity to celebrate the redevelopment of blighted/underutilized properties here in our community to be successfully rehabbed,” said Representative Alan Silva. “They provide economic growth, creating jobs, revitalizing our Gateway city. It also stimulates neighborhoods, commercial districts, housing and the Arts. Thanks to Community One Stop for Growth.”  “These redevelopment projects are crucial to the revitalization of our beautiful historic buildings in Fall River,” said Mayor Paul Coogan. “We owe a huge thank you to MassDevelopment for helping us fund these projects and bring culture and economic growth to the city." Underutilized Properties Program Awards:  NewVue Communities, Athol – $575,000  NewVue Communities will use this grant to redevelop two vacant historic schools in Athol into 53 units of market-rate housing dubbed The Residences at the Park.   Dunrovin LLC, Barnstable – $250,000  Dunrovin LLC will use this grant to redevelop an existing circa 1920 building in Barnstable into an eight-unit housing facility consisting of four duplexes. Funds will be used for site and infrastructure improvements.  William James Holdings LLC, Barnstable – $175,000  William James Holdings LLC will use this grant to redevelop a three-story, 6,708-square-foot mixed-use building in Barnstable into two first-floor commercial units and 12 units of market-rate housing. Funds will be used for fire and life safety code compliance, building shell repair, building stabilization, HVAC improvements or renovations, and interior rehabilitation or remediation.  Belchertown Community Alliance Inc., Belchertown – $275,000  Belchertown Community Alliance, in partnership with the Town of Belchertown, will use this grant to advance the revitalization of a former dormitory on the Belchertown State School campus, now known as Carriage Grove, a MassDevelopment community. Funds will be used to reconfigure the first-floor entry way to provide ADA access to the building, construct first-floor ADA-accessible bathrooms, and add an elevator.  G{Code}, Boston – $750,000  G{Code} will use this grant to redevelop a vacant Victorian home and carriage house in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood into a technology center with 16 units of affordable housing. Funds will be used for Phase One of the project, including permitting, contract deposit, ordering finishes and materials, project set-up, plumbing and electrical disconnect, remediation, rehabilitation staging and rehabilitation, post-rehabilitation cleaning and debris removal, and staging the site for commencement framing.  Causeway Development LLC, Brockton – $650,000  Causeway Development LLC will use this grant to redevelop a historic five-story, 40,000-square-foot building in downtown Brockton into 30 units of mixed-income housing; 15 units will be affordable, and 15 units will be market-rate. Funds will be used for building shell repair and interior rehabilitation.  NeighborWorks Housing Solutions, Brockton – $650,000  NeighborWorks Housing Solutions will use this grant to redevelop the former Grayson Hotel into 16 units of affordable housing. A ground floor retail program will include a minority-owned farmhouse cidery and market in affiliation with the adjacent Brockton Beer Company.  New Vision Enterprises LLC, Brockton – $243,842  New Vision Enterprises LLC will use this grant to transform 10,351 square feet of space within a vacant building in downtown Brockton into a collaborative workspace and café. Funds will be used to ensure ADA and building code compliance.  Sand Dollar Properties, Dennis – $450,000  Sand Dollar Properties will use this grant for the adaptive reuse of a vacant 9,980-square-foot building in Dennis into 24 units of housing; 18 units will be market rate and six units will be affordable. Funds will be used for construction of HVAC, electrical, and plumbing.  251 South Main LLC, Fall River – $200,500  251 South Main LLC will use this grant to rehabilitate and convert an abandoned blighted property in downtown Fall River into 28 units of mixed-income housing and ground-floor retail. Funds will be used to buy and install 79 exterior aluminum window frames and windows.  Durfee Trust Limited Partnership, Fall River – $400,000  Durfee Trust Limited Partnership will use this grant to redevelop a 19,400-square-foot blighted and vacant commercial building in downtown Fall River into 22 units of market-rate housing. Funds will be used for roof work and asbestos lead remediation.  The Goldman Group LLC, Fall River – $600,000  The Goldman Group LLC will use this grant to redevelop a 280,000-square-foot blighted and underutilized mill complex into 200-250 units of housing, commercial uses, and amenities such as a pool, fitness center, and tenant storage. Funds will be used for interior rehabilitation, roofing, and framing.  Royal 545 Main Street LLC, Falmouth – $379,975  Royal 545 Main Street, LLC will use this grant to redevelop a vacant 52,000-square-foot former nursing home in Falmouth into 71 units of affordable and workforce housing. Funds will be used to replace all existing mechanical systems with energy-efficient, all-electric systems with rooftop solar panels.  IVJ Group LLC, Fitchburg – $725,000  IVJ Group LLC will use this grant to convert three abandoned industrial mill buildings in Fitchburg, the Iver Mills, into 65 units of market-rate housing. Funds will be used for the repair, rebuild, and replacement of the original 150-year-old roof.  Millenium Holding Group LLC, Gardner – $500,000  Millenium Holding Group, LLC will use this grant to redevelop a vacant 13,500-square-foot former office building in downtown Gardner into 14 units of market-rate housing on upper floors and commercial spaces on the first floor. Funds will be used to support gap funding, install high-efficiency electric mini-splits, improve life safety systems, and upgrade the elevator.  215 Properties LLC, Grafton – $115,000  215 Properties LLC will use this grant to revitalize a vacant 12,856-square-foot building in Grafton into eight units of mixed-income housing; six units will be market rate and two units will be affordable. Funds will be used for building stabilization and shell repair, as well as interior rehabilitation or remediation.  Alander Group, Great Barrington – $450,000  Alander Group will use this grant to renovate and convert a historic 22,504-square-foot building in Great Barrington into two retail spaces and 13 units of mixed-income housing; 11 units will be market rate and two units will be affordable. Funds will be used for Phase Two work, which includes exterior shell and stabilization, interior core and shell fit-out, ADA compliance, interior corridor doors, interior fit-out and finishes, drywall, tile, carpet, and paint.  Franklin Community Cooperative, Greenfield – $750,000  Franklin Community Cooperative will use this grant for the development of the Green Fields Market on the first floor of the former Wilson’s Department Store in downtown Greenfield. Funds will be used for accessible restrooms, an accessible vestibule, first floor storefront replacement, a sprinkler system, fire exits, stairs, and doors.  Jacks Downeast LLC, Harwich – $200,000  Jacks Downeast, LLC will use this grant to refurbish and convert a historic, dilapidated 2,500-square-foot schoolhouse in West Harwich into seven units of market-rate housing. Funds will be used to bridge a financial gap to allow this project to move forward.  DevelopX Properties LLC, Haverhill – $650,000  DevelopX Properties LLC will use this grant to redevelop a 3,650-square-foot building in Haverhill’s Monument Square into 14 units of mixed income housing; 13 units will be market rate and one unit will be affordable. Funds will be used to stabilize the building.  Holyoke Redevelopment Authority, Holyoke – $600,000  Holyoke Redevelopment Authority will use this grant to redevelop a 70,000-square-foot abandoned, historic mill complex in downtown Holyoke, known as Farr Alpaca Mill/Appleton Mill, into 75 units of mixed-income housing; 64 units will be affordable and 11 units will be market rate. Funds will be used to rebuild the roof structure and replace the roof membrane, as well as perform the selective demolition and shoring required for access and support.  LightHouse Holyoke, Holyoke – $500,000  LightHouse Holyoke will use this grant to renovate the 19,000-square-foot former Congregation Sons of Zion Synagogue in downtown Holyoke. Funds will be used for the abatement and disposal of hazardous building materials and renovations.  Lawrence CommunityWorks, Lawrence – $600,000  Lawrence CommunityWorks will use this grant to redevelop an underutilized 35,000-square-foot building anchored by a Latinx-owned and -oriented supermarket; the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center pharmacy and clinic; and a major expansion of Lawrence CommunityWorks’ youth development program. Funds will be used for accessibility improvements, including construction of a hydraulic elevator and two publicly accessible bathrooms, as well as electrical systems.  Westmass Area Development Corporation, Ludlow – $300,500  Westmass Area Development Corporation will use this grant for the adaptive reuse of the historic warehouses at Ludlow Mills into modern, high-tech office space. Funds will be used for capital improvements and renovations that will allow the space to be converted for denser use.  WinnDevelopment, Ludlow – $500,000  WinnDevelopment will use this grant to enable the restoration of the dilapidated and non-operational iconic Ludlow Clock Tower at Mill 8 in Ludlow.  Town of Medfield, Medfield – $500,000  The Town of Medfield will use this grant to redevelop the former Medfield State Hospital into 334 units of mixed-income housing, 25% of which will be affordable. Funds will be used to remediate building #6 on the property.  Cape Verdean Association in New Bedford, New Bedford – $50,000  Cape Verdean Association in New Bedford will use this grant to transform a historic, vacant 9,000-square-foot theater in New Bedford into the Cape Verdean Cultural Center. Funds will be used for the historic restoration of the ornamental interior plasterwork.  SouthCoast LGBTQ Network Inc., New Bedford – $300,000  SouthCoast LGBTQ Network Inc. will use this grant to redevelop a vacant, historic building in New Bedford into a LGBTQ+ community center. Funds will be used for a new efficient HVAC system and all new electrical and plumbing.  Verdean Veterans Memorial Foundation, New Bedford – $300,000  Verdean Veterans Memorial Foundation will use this grant to improve the Verdean Veterans Memorial Hall in New Bedford. Funds will be used for second-floor upgrades, including HVAC updates, electrical improvements, as well as ensuring accessibility throughout the building.  Eagle Street Holdings LLC, North Adams – $250,000  Eagle Street Holdings LLC will use this grant to redevelop the vacant, historic Tower and Porter Block in North Adams into nine units of market-rate housing and two commercial units. Funds will be used for the engineering, purchase, and installation of HVAC systems throughout the entire building.  AM Management LLC, Pittsfield – $200,000  AM Management, LLC will use this grant to convert a distressed 20,000-square-foot office building in Pittsfield into 28 units of mixed-income housing; 22 units will be market-rate and eight units will be affordable. Funds will be used for building code compliance, fire/life safety code compliance, accessibility improvements, HVAC, and interior building rehabilitation.  Davenport Advisors LLC, Springfield – $600,000  Davenport Advisors LLC will use this grant to redevelop Lyman Corners, a vacant, historic 90,000-square-foot building in Springfield, into a market-rate rental housing facility. Funds will be used for a new roof, window replacements, and shoring of existing staircases and flooring.  Love Art Collective Inc., Springfield – $150,000  Love Art Collective Inc. will use this grant to activate a vacant 5,500-square-foot building in Springfield into a creative community space for artists. Funds will be used to help improve the existing building to enhance the impact of the studio’s potential for creative community services.  Mass Collision LLC, Springfield – $500,000  Mass Collision LLC will use this grant to make an underutilized 37,647-square-foot building energy efficient and ADA and building code compliant. Funds will be used to install a wheelchair ramp, repair the roof and windows, and improve the envelope.  KAVA Properties LLC, Sterling – $375,000  KAVA Properties, LLC will use this grant to renovate 12,000 square feet of the former Sterling Hotel in Sterling and convert it into 26 units of mixed-income housing; 14 units will be affordable, and 12 units will be market-rate. Funds will be used for rehabilitation and remediation, including material removal and asbestos abatement.  Northcounty Group Inc., Taunton – $188,000  Northcounty Group Inc. will use this grant to renovate a 24,948-square-foot building in Taunton into a mixed-use building featuring 36 units of market-rate housing and commercial space. Funds will be used for structural evaluation; improvements to structural elements; design repairs to the existing concrete slab; and the necessary design to the sewer system, the water system, and exterior walls.  MPZ Development LLC, Templeton – $750,000  MPZ Development LLC will use this grant to convert a former elementary school property into 54 units of housing; 49 units will be affordable, and five units will be market rate. Funds will be used for construction purposes.  New Americans Community Development Corporation, Worcester – $250,000  New Americans Community Development Corporation will use this grant to rehabilitate a blighted and vacant historic building in Worcester to create two units of affordable housing and one office space. Funds will be used to pay for hard construction costs.  The Menkiti Group, Worcester – $650,000  The Menkiti Group will use this grant to renovate and redevelop a historic building in downtown Worcester into 20 units of housing and 6,000 square feet of retail space. Funds will be used for extensive façade repairs and new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.  Commonwealth Places Program Awards:  Casa Dos Acores Da Nova Inglaterra Inc., Fall River – $50,000  Casa Dos Acores Da Nova Inglaterra, Inc. (House of Azores of New England, Inc.) will use this grant for its FABRIC Arts Festival in Fall River, which will activate space for art exhibitions at several locations in the city.  Cape Verdean Association of New Bedford Inc., New Bedford – $50,000  Cape Verdean Association of New England, Inc. will use this grant to transform a blighted vacant lot into Island Park, a vibrant public greenspace focused on celebrating and educating the public about Cape Verdean and other Island immigrant cultures. Funds will be used for construction supplies and labor.  Town of Northfield, Northfield – $8,000  The Town of Northfield will use this grant to hire a consultant to lead community engagement workshops to develop a planning document and recommended projects related to improving the downtown.  Downtown Pittsfield Cultural Association Inc., Pittsfield – $50,000  Downtown Pittsfield Cultural Association, Inc. will use this grant to activate community spaces with lighting. Specifically, the organization will add a large-scale outdoor light show to Festive Frolic and 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festivals; install lighting in underutilized alleys that connect to the district’s parking garage; create permanent seating and add lighting to critical locations for night events; and illuminate three historic properties as part of the ongoing Berkshire Landscapes project.  The Neighborhood Developers Inc., Revere – $50,000  The Neighborhood Developers, Inc. will use this grant to advance the transformation of Fitzhenry Square, an underutilized open space in Revere’s Shirley Avenue neighborhood, into a shared-use space and dog park.  North Shore Community Development Coalition Inc., Salem – $50,000  North Shore Community Development Coalition, Inc. will use this grant to build a new outdoor gathering space, dubbed El Patio, in Salem. The space will be designed for residents to gather and for small businesses to utilize. Funds will be used to fit out and furnish the space.  Salisbury Beach Partnership Inc., Salisbury – $49,500  Salisbury Beach Partnership, Inc. will use this grant for its Salisbury Beach Historic Pavilion placemaking project that aims to restore Salisbury Beach as a top tourist destination on Massachusetts’s North Shore. Funds will be used to complete the new pavilion that will house the partnership’s 1909 Loof-Mangels carousel, creating a year-round space for community members and tourists to visit.   Springfield Cultural Partnership Inc., Springfield – $17,500  Springfield Cultural Partnership, Inc., in partnership with Springfield Business Improvement District, will use this grant to activate vacant storefronts within the Springfield Central Cultural District with creative placemaking and produce two pop-up outdoor art events. The partnership will develop and execute a vacant storefront pilot with a focus on recruiting local Springfield artists to infuse these spaces with arts, music, and creative activities.  City of Worcester, Worcester – $50,000  The City of Worcester, in partnership with the Worcester Cultural Coalition, will use this grant for its Allen Court Art-Let project. Funds will be used to improve and activate the blighted and underutilized Allen Court alleyway in downtown Worcester into an affordable outdoor venue for artists, performers, and creative entrepreneurs by adding a decorative lighting installation made with upcycled materials and public art.  About the Community One Stop for Growth  The Community One Stop for Growth is an annual program overseen by the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) that provides a streamlined process 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 fund 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/guides/community-one-stop-for-growth.    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 FY2023, MassDevelopment financed or managed 545 projects generating investment of more than $2 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are estimated to create or support 10,522 jobs and build or preserve 1,583 housing units.