Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates More Than $18 Million Through Community One Stop for Growth
Gardner, Mass. – Today, the Healey-Driscoll
administration joined state and local officials in Gardner to celebrate awards
through Community One Stop for Growth, including $18,704,674 for 37
grant awards through the Underutilized Properties Program.
These grants were included in the Healey-Driscoll
Administration’s recently announced $161 million for 313 grant awards to
support local economic development projects in 171 communities across the
state. The Mass Leads Act, a far-reaching $4 billion economic development bill
that Governor Healey signed into law this fall, reauthorizes several
programs in the Community One Stop for Growth, including $90 million for the
Underutilized Properties Program.
“Revitalizing underutilized properties is essential for
driving economic growth in our communities,” said Governor Maura Healey.
“These investments will create new opportunities across Massachusetts by
transforming neglected spaces into housing, businesses and public
spaces.”
“The Underutilized Properties Program is an important
initiative for unlocking our cities and towns’ economic potential,” said Lieutenant
Governor Kim Driscoll. “This funding will support 37 important projects
like elevator repairs, child care space expansion, historic site preservation
and more. We are excited to see how these projects will help address the
critical needs of our communities.”
“Through Community One Stop for Growth, we’re building
stronger communities throughout Massachusetts,” said Secretary of
Economic Development Yvonne Hao. “By redeveloping blighted and vacant
properties, we are fostering an equitable economy for future generations and
ensuring that every community has the right resources to succeed.”
“These state grants directly enhance our communities with
new housing, shops, restaurants, workspaces, and other amenities in what were
once underutilized or vacant buildings,” said MassDevelopment President
and CEO Navjeet Bal. “MassDevelopment is proud to administer the
Underutilized Properties Program on behalf of the Commonwealth and is grateful
to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Legislature for their continued
support of this high-impact economic development tool.”
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. The program
offers grants ranging from $50,000 to $1,000,000 for capital improvements and
predevelopment activities, including building stabilization, roof repair, HVAC
system improvements, tenant improvements, and compliance with building codes and
safety regulations.
This year’s awards will fund improvements to 37 properties
in 23 communities. The town of Dunstable, town of Northbridge, and Winchendon's
Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center are receiving One Stop grants through the
Underutilized Properties Program for the first time. Of the 37 applications
awarded, 59 percent are located in a Gateway City, 43 percent are located in an
MBTA Community, 49 percent are located in a Housing Choice Community, and 11
percent are located in a Rural Community. Since the program was created in
2021, it has supported 145 awards for a total investment of more than $64
million.
“It’s very exciting to see how Gardner has been revitalized
through hard work on the local level and the use of funding from the One Stop
Awards,” said State Senator Peter Durant, R-Spencer. “The city is
reinventing its downtown area with new vision for housing and commercial spaces
in buildings that might otherwise have become eyesores. The city should be very
proud of these projects.”
“The City of Gardner is happy to host today’s grant
announcements for the Underutilized Properties Program and celebrate the
successes of the One Stop for Growth program. Gardner has seen firsthand the
ways that the UPP Grants truly change the face of a community and bring new
life into areas that were once viewed as dead and rundown,” said City
of Gardner Mayor Michael J. Nicholson. “The UPP Grants we’ve received in
previous years and the HousingWorks Grant we received this year are making
substantial positive impacts - transforming blight into promise in the heart of
our Downtown. Funding like the awards that were announced today help both
revitalize our communities and combat the need for increased housing production
across the Commonwealth. I’d like to thank the Healey-Driscoll Administration
for their continued investment in our communities to build a stronger
Commonwealth.”
Underutilized Properties Program Awards
Adams Theater LLC, Adams - $276,048
Adams Theater LLC will use this grant to revitalize its historic theater.
Elmer's Community Center Inc., Ashfield - $381,232
Elmer's Community Center Inc. will use this grant to restore the historic and
underutilized Elmer's building.
Union Theatre Plaza LLC, Attleboro - $419,500
Union Theatre Plaza LLC will use this grant to revitalize its historic
theater.
Hyde Square Task Force, Boston - $783,369
Hyde Square Task Force will use this grant to redevelop Blessed Sacrament into
55 units of affordable housing for income levels between 30-80 percent AMI, as
well as a performance space for community benefit.
Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation, Boston -
$579,533
Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation will use this grant to
transform the former Dorchester Savings Bank to a commercial space to support
arts, culture and community-oriented uses.
Children's Services of Roxbury, Boston - $500,000
Children's Services of Roxbury will use this grant to transform two
underutilized buildings and a vacant structure in Nubian Square into an
economic development center.
CommonWealth Kitchen, Boston - $150,000
CommonWealth Kitchen will use this grant to optimize space expanding its
co-manufacturing capacity.
157 Centre Street LLC, Brockton - $444,000
157 Centre Street LLC will use this grant to install an elevator for a vacant
building with 28 housing units next to the commuter rail and bus station.
Housing Assistance Corporation, Dennis - $158,400
The Housing Assistance Corporation will use this grant to convert a former
nursing home into transitional housing for more than 70 families.
Town of Dunstable, Dunstable - $50,000
Town of Dunstable will use this grant to convert the Union School Building into
a space that will be leased for community spaces, childcare centers, artisan
studios and/or shared workspaces.
CitySpace, Easthampton - $501,830
CitySpace will use this grant to complete Phase II of the Old Town Hall
addressing accessibility improvements to make the venue accessible to
all.
Durfee Trust Limited Partnership, Fall River -
$558,400
Durfee Trust Limited Partnership will use this grant to convert a former bank
into 22 market-rate, one-bedroom apartments.
MassCan Capital LLC, Fall River - $250,000
MassCan Capital LLC will use this grant towards the adaptive reuse of Globe
Mill into over 80 market-rate residential units.
Royal 545 Main Street LLC, Falmouth - $669,955
Royal 545 Main Street LLC will use this grant to renovate a former nursing home
into 67 fully furnished units of affordable workforce housing for year-round
and seasonal employees.
Watch Us Grow LLC, Fitchburg - $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.
Prime Real Estate Investment LLC, Fitchburg -
$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.
The Community Builders Inc., Greenfield -
$2,763,260
The Community Builders Inc. will use this funding towards the structural
reinforcement of the Putnam building for affordable housing in a mixed-use
building.
Franklin Community Cooperative, Greenfield -
$250,000
Franklin Community Cooperative will use this funding towards the structural
reinforcement of the Green Fields Market building to expand its flagship
grocery store.
Creative Haverhill, Haverhill - $470,000
Creative Haverhill will use this funding to redevelop the former Cogswell
School into art spaces offering a creative experience for all income
levels.
Wrights Block, Holyoke - $400,000
Wrights Block will use this funding to convert its upper floors into 19 new
mixed-income apartments.
345 DWIGHT ST LLC, Holyoke - $114,000
345 Dwight Street LLC will use this grant to redevelop Hotel Hamiliton with
multiple retail and service businesses on the ground floor, workforce and
market-rate housing on three floors, and a rooftop restaurant.
BroadwayCanal-1 LLC, Lawrence - $525,000
BroadwayCanal-1 LLC will use this grant to construct 120,000 square-feet of
space for light manufacturing and small business.
RG Realty LLC, Lowell - $450,000
RG Realty LLC will use this grant to convert 635 Middlesex Street into a
housing and business space.
New Royal LLC, Lowell - $500,000
New Royal LLC will use this grant to convert a historic theater into 17 units
of housing and retail space for Sophia's Greek Pantry.
Westmass Area Development Corporation, Ludlow -
$892,000
Westmass Area Development Corporation will use this grant to stabilize
buildings at Ludlow Mills for new commercial space.
City of New Bedford, New Bedford - $250,000
City of New Bedford will use this grant to redevelop New Bedford Textile School
into transit-oriented housing.
Green Mile, New Bedford - $147,000
Green Mile will use this grant to redevelop 105 Ashley Blvd into nine new
affordable rental units.
Town of Northbridge, Northbridge - $750,000
Town of Northbridge will use this grant to renovate the Aldrich School Early
Childcare Center to create 85 new childcare slots of which at least 50 percent
are for families receiving vouchers and public subsidies.
Allegrone Companies, Pittsfield - $626,732
Allegrone Companies will use this grant towards Wright Building Block Phase II,
which will convert the building into 14 mixed-income housing units and two
storefronts.
Elegant Stitches Inc., Pittsfield - $315,450
Elegant Stitches Inc. will use this grant to expand its facility on 15
commercial street from 2,500 square-feet to 22,000 square-feet.
McCaffery Interests Inc., Springfield - $500,000
McCaffery Interests Inc. will use this grant towards the pre-construction of
converting Colonial Block into 63 apartment units and ground floor
retail.
MPZ Development LLC, Springfield - $250,000
MPZ Development LLC will use this grant towards the pre-construction of
converting Brightwood School Apartments into 57 units of senior rental
apartments.
Hope for Youth & Families, Springfield -
$160,000
Hope for Youth & Families will use this grant towards the pre-construction
of its arts center that will provide free programs to Springfield youth.
12 Porter Street Development LLC, Taunton - $616,926
12 Porter Street Development LLC will use this grant to repair a 144-year-old
building at 12 Porter Street that will have 10 rental units.
True Diversity Inc., Taunton - $228,914
True Diversity Inc. will use this grant to revitalize The Loft in Taunton's
Whittenton Village into a Clean Energy Community Resilience Hub, which will
include a workforce center and event space.
Northcounty Group Inc., Taunton - $100,000
Northcounty Group Inc. will use this grant to revitalize the commercial space
at 74 Weir Street.
Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center,
Winchendon - $876,717
Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center will use this grant to redevelop the
Streeter and Poland schools for the creation of 44 one-bedroom units of
affordable veterans housing.
