Administration awards $17M in dam and coastal infrastructure grants

Gov. Charlie Baker announces more than $17.3 million in grants to address failing dams, coastal infrastructure and levees across the Commonwealth at Haskell Pond in Gloucester on July 29. (Photo courtesy Joshua Qualls/Governor’s Press Office)

The Baker-Polito administration on July 28 announced more than $17.3 million in grants to address failing dams, coastal infrastructure, and levees across the Commonwealth.

The 32 grants from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ Dam and Seawall Program will support permitting and construction projects in 28 cities and towns: Acton, Ashfield, Braintree, Brockton, Chicopee, Dracut, Dudley, Essex, Gardner, Gloucester, Hull, Ipswich, Leominster, Marshfield, New Bedford, Northborough, Oxford, Peabody, Quincy, Salem, Saugus, Somerset, Stow, Springfield, Wareham, Weymouth, the Wildlands Trust in Kingston, and Worcester.

The announcement was made by Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides and state and local officials at Haskell Pond Dam in Gloucester.

“The Commonwealth’s cities and towns are seeing the impacts of climate change every day, and our administration is committed to providing needed funding to support critical resilience projects to address these issues,” Gov. Baker said. “These grants will help municipalities make substantial progress to maintain and repair aging dams and seawalls across Massachusetts.”

The Dam and Seawall Program has now provided more than $95 million in grants and loans to address deficient dams, seawalls, and levees since the program began in 2013.

“As we prepare for stronger storms, rising seas, and more intense precipitation, maintenance and enhancement of our aging water control structures, as well as strategies to increase natural infrastructure will help build more resilient cities and towns throughout the state,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides.

“As a coastal community, we have seen firsthand how devastating winter storms, inland flooding and sea level rise can be for everyone,” said Gloucester Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken. “Thankfully, we have continued to work with state leadership on climate resiliency programs, including the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness grant program, which helped us understand our needs and earn these terrific grant awards supporting the Haskell Pond Dam Repair and Gloucester High School Flood Barrier.”

At the announcement, the administration also highlighted its $2.9 billion proposal to immediately invest a portion of Massachusetts’ federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act on urgent priorities that include $300 million for climate-resilient infrastructure.

The complete list of grant recipients is available on the governor’s office website.