Healey Administration Awards $161 Million in Housing Grants Across the State

by James Lynch

Governor Maura Healey, joined by Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao, and Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus, announced in Worcester on Thursday a significant investment in local economies through $161 million in grants. These funds will support housing and economic initiatives across 171 communities statewide, with plans to add thousands of new housing units.

The 313 grants were awarded through the Community One Stop for Growth program, managed by the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED). This program enables municipalities and organizations to apply for one of 12 different state grant programs that fund local economic development projects, including planning, zoning, infrastructure, site preparation, construction, and housing development.

“We’re proud to support Massachusetts’ strong cities and towns through Community One Stop for Growth, providing the resources communities need to expand their economies and meet resident needs,” said Healey. “With these grants, communities will be able to build more housing, reduce costs, improve road safety, revitalize downtowns, and create jobs. We’re excited to see these investments take shape across the state.”

The EOED received 756 applications from 510 organizations, covering projects in 229 communities. Of the awarded grants, 33% support rural areas or small towns, 32% focus on Gateway Cities, 48% benefit Housing Choice Communities, and 50% are in MBTA communities.

Notably, 40 communities are first-time grant recipients. The EOED anticipates that these grants will lead to the creation of over 18,000 new housing units, including 4,000 affordable units, as well as 31,000 permanent jobs and over 14 million square feet of new commercial space.

Each year, the Community One Stop for Growth “invests in transformative projects that stimulate local and regional economic growth,” noted Hao. “We are grateful to the municipal partners, developers, and community leaders who submitted applications, and we look forward to collaborating to bring these projects to fruition.”

Recent Posts