BOSTON, Mass.  — Five months after Williamstown's town meeting opted into the commonwealth's Seasonal Communities program, the town has received its first grant from the state under the program.

 

Gov. Maura Healey Tuesday announced nearly $2 million in Seasonal Community Grants to help all 24 municipalities in the program statewide.

 

The funding helps communities advance housing projects with the potential to support 594 year-round homes, including affordable housing developments, infrastructure improvements and planning efforts that will help unlock future housing opportunities.

 

"From the Berkshires to Cape Cod and the Islands, our seasonal communities are an important part of what makes Massachusetts special," Healey in a news release. "But we know these communities face unique challenges, especially when it comes to housing for the people who live and work there year-round. That's why we created the Seasonal Communities designation and are backing it up with funding to help local leaders build more homes, support their workforce and keep their communities strong for generations to come."

 

That list of awardees includes six Berkshire County towns:

 

• Egremont — $60,687 to support septic and well construction for Phase II of Town Hall Housing, adding affordable housing units (20 units).

 

• Great Barrington — $84,731 to conduct a housing needs study, develop a Housing Production Plan and support the design and engineering of roadway and streetscape improvements near Reed Street and Main Street.

 

• Monterey — $59,539 to advance site preparation and pre-development activities for future housing development on town-owned land (6 units).

 

• Sheffield — $68,792 to establish an ADU Pilot Program offering a 0% deferred-payment, forgivable loan to encourage accessory dwelling unit development.

 

• West Stockbridge — $60,567 to develop zoning bylaw revisions, support the Affordable Housing Trust, implement Housing Production Plan strategies and advance pre-development activities for housing on town-owned land (10 units).

 

• Williamstown — $86,144 to support Habitat for Humanity's construction of affordable housing at Summer Street and assist the town's Affordable Housing Trust with Housing Production Plan strategies (4 units).

 

Other projects include supporting construction of 46 affordable homes in Falmouth, advancing a 12-unit supportive housing development for veterans in Oak Bluffs, preparing infrastructure for a proposed 160-unit development in Truro and assessing the potential for 250 affordable and workforce homes at Maurice's Campground in Wellfleet.

 

The Seasonal Communities Grant Program was established as part of the $5.16 billion Affordable Homes Act signed by Healey in 2024, the largest housing bond bill in Massachusetts history. Earlier this year, the administration finalized regulations that give designated communities new tools to create and preserve year-round housing, including zoning reforms and options to support local workers and residents.

 

"Congratulations to the Williamstown Affordable Housing Trust on receiving $86,144 to advance the town's affordable housing initiatives," State Rep. John Barrett III, D-North Adams, said. "I commend the Healey administration for creating this innovative program and my colleagues in the Legislature for approving the funding that makes it possible. By giving communities the resources to turn local housing plans into reality, this partnership is helping Williamstown and communities across Massachusetts expand access to affordable homes."

 

Rep. Leigh Davis of the third Berkshire District said the Seasonal Communities grants will help keep county residents in the area.

 

"The Berkshires are a special place to call home, but too many young people and working families are being priced out," Davis said. "We need to make sure the people who grow up here, raise families here, and keep our towns running can afford to stay. These grants will help our communities do just that. I'm grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for recognizing the unique housing challenges facing our seasonal communities and helping make year-round living more affordable."