State agencies explain state, federal programs to help communities mitigate COVID impacts

Representatives from a range of state and quasi-government agencies participated in a webinar yesterday to give an overview of state and federally funded programs available to help communities mitigate some of the economic impacts created by the COVID-19 emergency.

Presenters from the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, Department of Housing and Community Development, MassDevelopment and Mass Growth Capital Corporation discussed Community Development Block Grants, Housing Choice, the Massachusetts Downtown Initiative, MassWorks, and Urban Agenda, as well as funding opportunities to encourage business and community economic recovery.

Municipalities and their partners may access these state funding opportunities as they work to encourage business and community economic recovery.

Panelists were:
• Housing and Economic Development Deputy Secretary Tim McGourthy
• Louis Martin, associate director, Department of Housing and Community Development
• Mark Southard, community development manager, Department of Housing and Community Development
• Amy Stitely, chief of programs, Department of Housing and Community Development
• Juan Vega, assistant secretary for Communities and Programs, Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development
• Larry Andrews, president and CEO of Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation
• Lauren Liss, president and CEO of MassDevelopment

• Addressing the Economic Challenges of COVID-19 presentation (1M PDF)