Governor Patrick Announces $26.7 Million For Community Improvement
BOSTON – Governor Deval Patrick today announced 55 communities will receive $26.7 million in federal Community Development Block Grants to help fund a variety of improvement projects, boost business and economic development opportunities, and upgrade social services.Repair and improvements to infrastructure and housing rehabilitation for low- and middle-income families are the two largest spending categories. Some 256 private housing units will be rehabilitated using these grant funds, and almost all of them will be single family homes occupied by low or moderate income households.
“Whether it’s through support service upgrades, renovated housing, or new roadways and sidewalks, the investment made by these grants will help create jobs and produce long-term benefits for all Massachusetts residents,” said Governor Patrick.
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is the Commonwealth’s largest available resource to provide municipalities with resources to implement community and economic development projects, and funds are distributed by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development to cities and towns with populations of less than 50,000.
The federal funds are targeted to support community revitalization, meet the housing and service needs of low- and moderate-income people and build and repair infrastructure vital to the health and safety of all residents. Eligible communities with populations greater than 50,000 receive CDBG funding directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The maximum grant for a single community is $800,000 or $1 million for a single community undertaking multiple, geographically targeted activities. Regional applications are accepted.
Of the $26.7 million awarded, 15 communities along the Route 2 corridor from Gardner to North Adams will receive approximately $6.6 million while another 21 towns clustered throughout Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and western Worcester County will receive nearly $7.6 million. Central Massachusetts communities will receive $3.8 million while southeast Massachusetts, the Cape and Islands receive $4.6 million. A balance of $4.1 million will go to cities and towns in the eastern part of the state (complete award list attached).
“These popular grants are extremely flexible and can be used any number of ways to improve our quality of life and help keep our state economically competitive while creating a culture of opportunity for those who earn across a wide variety of incomes,” said Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Tina Brooks.
Community Development Block Grant Awards
| Communities | Summary | Award |
| AMHERST | Public Facilities Improvements–Head Start and “Survival” Center; Public Services | $799,957 |
| ATHOL | Infrastructure Improvements; Public Services | $570,850 |
| ATHOL, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalsto |
Housing Rehabilitation (11 units); |
$659,987 |
| CHELSEA |
Code Enforcement, Housing Other, Planning Infrastructure Improvements; Public Services |
$800,000 |
|
CHESTERFIELD, Cummington, Goshen, Plainfield, Westhampton, Williamsburg, Worthington |
Architectural Barrier Removal; Housing Rehabilitation (14 units); First Time Homebuyer Downpayment Assistance; Planning: Public Services | $1,126,844 |
| DARTMOUTH | Architectural Barrier Removal: Housing Rehabilitation (10 units) | $505,337 |
| DENNIS, Harwich | Housing Rehabilitation (27 units) | $999,765 |
| ERVING, Bernardston, Colrain, Gill, Northfield, Rowe, Whately | Design; Housing Rehabilitation (17 units) | $969,024 |
| EVERETT | Infrastructure Improvements; Public Services | $800,000 |
| FAIRHAVEN |
Housing Rehabilitation (4 units); Infrastructure Improvements |
$965,098 |
| GARDNER | Demolition; Housing Rehabilitation (5units);Public Facilities Improvements -Senior Center; Public Services | $800,000 |
| GREAT BARRINGTON | Design, Infrastructure Improvements | $647,478 |
| GREENFIELD | Commercial Rehabilitation (3 units); First Time Homebuyer Downpayment Assistance; Public Facilities Improvements - Park; Public Services | $800,000 |
| HUDSON | Public Facilities Improvements -Senior Center | $540,000 |
| MILFORD |
Housing Rehabilitation (8 units); Infrastructure Improvements |
$905,874 |
| NORTH ADAMS | Infrastructure Improvements; Public Facilities | $800,000 |
| NORWOOD | Housing Rehabilitation (12 units); Infrastructure Improvements | $987,690 |
| OAK BLUFFS, Tisbury | Housing Rehabilitation (18 units) | $615,909 |
| ORANGE | Housing Rehabilitation (3 units); Infrastructure Improvements; Planning; Public Services | $1,000,000 |
| REVERE |
Housing Rehabilitation (10 units); Infrastructure Improvements |
$800,000 |
| RUSSELL, Chester, Huntington, Middlefield | Housing Rehabilitation (6 units); Infrastructure Improvements; Public Social Services | $999,009 |
| SALISBURY |
Housing Rehabilitation (3 units); Infrastructure; Public Social Services |
$724,275 |
| SPENCER | Housing Rehabilitation (20 units); Planning | $758,790 |
| SOUTHBRIDGE | Commercial Rehabilitation (12 units); Housing Rehabilitation (7 units); Infrastructure Improvements | $800,000 |
|
SOUTHWICK, Granville |
Design; Housing Rehabilitation (12 units); Infrastructure Improvements | $978,300 |
| TEMPLETON | Housing Rehabilitation (9 units); Infrastructure | $966,400 |
| WARE |
Infrastructure Improvements; Planning Public Services |
$800,000 |
| WARE, Brookfield, Hardwick, Warren |
Housing Rehabilitation (16 units); Public Services |
$661,597 |
| WAREHAM | Design; Housing Rehabilitation (15 units); Code Enforcement; Public Services | $800,000 |
| WARREN |
Design; Infrastructure Improvements; Public Services |
$787,623 |
| WEBSTER | Infrastructure Improvements | $800,000 |
| WELLFLEET, Provincetown | Housing Rehabilitation (18 units) | $718,656 |
| WEST SPRINGFIELD | Housing Rehabilitation (11 units); Housing Code Enforcement; Infrastructure Improvements; Public Services | $800,000 |
Note: For multi-community awards listed, towns in capital/bold letters are acting as lead agencies administering grants for the communities listed in non-bold/lower case.
