Administration announces $164M in Community One Stop for Growth grants

At an event in Revere today, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced $164 million for 338 grant awards through the Community One Stop for Growth program to support local economic development projects in 161 communities across the state.

Community One Stop for Growth is the Executive Office of Economic Development’s application portal that provides a streamlined process for municipalities and organizations to apply for 13 state grant programs that fund economic development projects related to planning and zoning, site preparation, building construction, infrastructure, and housing development.

The announcement — attended by Gov. Maura Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao and Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus — honored recipients of awards through the MassWorks and HousingWorks grant programs, two of the largest programs in One Stop. Revere is receiving a MassWorks award for the redevelopment of Suffolk Downs, as well as a Housing Choice program grant.

Healey said the funds “will help make possible community-led projects that build vibrant downtowns and unlock economic potential in every region of Massachusetts, while creating new jobs, housing, and opportunity.”

Driscoll pointed out that One Stop allows the administration to partner with cities and towns “to support their economic development goals while empowering them to pursue their vision for growth.”

For this round of One Stop, the state received 783 applications from 239 communities representing every region of the state, according to the administration.

Of the 336 grants awarded, 26% are located in a rural or small town, 33% are located in a Gateway City, 61% are located in an MBTA Community, and 49% are located in a Housing Choice Community.

The Executive Office of Economic Development estimates that One Stop awards will help create 8,000 new housing units (including 3,000 new affordable units), 10,000 new permanent jobs, and more than 5.4 million square feet of new commercial development.

The fiscal 2024 One Stop awards include the following:
• MassWorks Infrastructure Program: $91 million for 53 projects
• HousingWorks Infrastructure Program: $33.5 million for 15 projects
• Underutilized Properties Program: $16.5 million for 39 projects
• Rural and Small Town Development Fund: $5 million for 17 projects
• Housing Choice Community Grants: $4.7 million for 34 projects
• Site Readiness Program: $2.86 million for 10 projects
• Urban Agenda Grant Program: $2.5 million for 28 projects
• Community Planning Grants: $4.85 million for 79 projects
• Brownfields Redevelopment Fund: $1.34 million for eight projects
• Collaborative Workspace Program: $950,000 for 39 projects
• Massachusetts Downtown Initiative: $550,000 for 22 projects
• Commonwealth Places: $375,000 for nine projects
• Real Estate Services Technical Assistance: $250,000 for eight projects

The full list of grant recipients and project descriptions is available on the EOED website.

MassWorks, one of the state’s largest competitive grant programs, offers cities and towns flexible capital funding to support and accelerate housing production and job growth. This year, the administration is awarding grants to 50 communities, including five communities that are receiving their first-ever award. This year’s projects include 26 that are supporting mixed-use or commercial developments and 15 that are improving road safety in small towns. These projects are expected to create 4,525 units of housing, as well as more than 4,100 permanent jobs and 9,800 construction jobs.

HousingWorks provides grants to municipalities for a variety of infrastructure improvements that spur housing development and preservation. In this inaugural year of the grant program, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities awarded grants to 15 communities to support or preserve 2,108 units of housing.