Administration makes additional grants available for housing production

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll announces the availability of additional funding for municipalities to support community planning and engagement efforts geared toward increasing the production of housing.

At the Local Government Advisory Commission meeting with local officials from across the state this afternoon, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll announced the availability of additional funding for municipalities to support community planning and engagement efforts geared toward increasing the production of housing.

Approximately $1.5 million in Community Compact funds will be distributed competitively to eligible projects through the Community Planning Grant Program in the 2023 Community One Stop for Growth process.

All Massachusetts municipalities are eligible for consideration. Applications will be evaluated by the Division of Local Services in collaboration with the Department of Housing and Community Development.

Grants made with the additional funds will likely be between $25,000 and $100,000, with $100,000 as the maximum. Funding is subject to appropriations in the Department of Revenue’s operating and capital budgets.

Grant funds may be expended on professional services and related costs for the completion of a housing planning project related to housing production. Projects that will be eligible include the following:
• Housing production plan
• Feasibility study for municipally owned property for future housing use
• Housing-focused neighborhood plan
• Housing-focused downtown plan
• Housing-focused mixed-use corridor plan
• Zoning review and revision to encourage additional housing
• Zoning to comply with Section 3A of Chapter 40A (MBTA Communities)
• Inclusionary zoning to add affordability requirements
• Simple majority zoning amendment
• Implementation of a Housing Choice best practice
• Economic feasibility analysis for compliance with Section 3A of Chapter 40A
• Establishment or expansion of a 40R smart growth overlay district
• Outreach and education about housing needs

Grants made with the additional funds are expected to be awarded in early June. Successful applicants must execute a contract with the Department of Revenue no later than June 30. Funded projects must be completed by June 30, 2025. The funds are available on a reimbursement basis.

Application can be made through the Community One Stop for Growth (www.mass.gov/onestop), which is open from May 1 through June 2.

Applicants are encouraged to note in the “Short Project Description/Abstract” of their full application that they wish to be considered for the new additional housing planning funds and also confirm that they can execute a contract by June 30. Applicants that have already applied for a Planning and Zoning housing-related project in the Community One Stop will be evaluated by program reviewers without having to make modifications to their application.

For more information, contact Chris Kluchman, deputy director of the DHCD’s Community Services Division, at chris.kluchman@mass.gov, or Filipe Zamborlini, community grants coordinator in the DHCD’s Community Services Division, at filipe.zamborlini@mass.gov.

• Letter to chief municipal officials (800K PDF)
• FY24 Community Planning Grant Program Notice of Additional Funds Available and Application Guidelines (200K PDF)