Community One Stop’s Expression of Interest period ends March 26

Municipalities and organizations can now work on fiscal 2026 Community One Stop for Growth funding applications through the state’s portal, with an optional Expression of Interest deadline approaching on March 26.

The Expression of Interest process allows for applicants to receive guidance on priority projects from Executive Office of Economic Development staff.

Community One Stop offers a streamlined process for communities, organizations, and developers to access a range of economic development grants and technical assistance across multiple agencies. One Stop grant programs are administered by the Executive Office of Economic Development, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, and the quasi-public MassDevelopment agency.

Programs in the One Stop offer direct funding and support to housing and economic development projects related to placemaking, planning and zoning, site preparation, building construction, and infrastructure.

May 5 is the first day for submitting complete applications, and the application window will remain open through June 4. One Stop grant awards will be announced in the fall.

Grant programs accessible through Community One Stop include the MassWorks Infrastructure Program, the Massachusetts Downtown Initiative, the Rural Development Fund, the Housing Choice Grant Program, the Community Planning Grant Program, the HousingWorks Infrastructure Program, the Underutilized Properties Program, the Site Readiness Program, the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund, and the Real Estate Services Technical Assistance.

For fiscal 2026, Community One Stop has added two existing state economic development programs to the portal: the Vacant Storefront Program and the Transformative Development Initiative Equity Investment Program.

The Vacant Storefront Program, administered by the EOED, offers municipalities access to up to $50,000 of refundable tax credits they can use to incentivize businesses to occupy vacant storefronts in downtown and commercial areas.

The TDI Equity Investment Program, administered by MassDevelopment, provides grants ranging from $25,000 to $250,000 to revive commercial spaces in and around designated TDI Districts in Gateway Cities.

The EOED’s Urban Agenda Program will not be offered through Community One Stop this year, but will be offered through a new online portal opening this spring to allow for greater flexibility and benefits for prospective grantees.

In another change, the Collaborative Workspaces Program will be paused for the fiscal 2026 One Stop application round; applicants are encouraged to apply to the Underutilized Properties Program instead, when applicable.

For more information and application details, visit www.mass.gov/onestop.