Program Provides Funding to Improve, Maintain, and Protect State’s Coastal Assets Against Climate Change and Invest in their Economic Potential

MARION - On May 22, 2024, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced the FY25 opening of the Seaport Economic Council’s grant program, which provides funding to support working waterfronts, local tourism, coastal resiliency, and maritime innovation across Massachusetts’ coastal region. 

The announcement was made by Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Chair of the Seaport Economic Council, during an event with Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao and members of the Council celebrating progress on Marion's new Maritime Center Project, which has received more than $1.6 million in grant funding from the Seaport Economic Council.

“From Cape Ann to Cape Cod to the Southcoast, our seaside communities are important centers for recreation, tourism, commercial activity, and economic development,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We are proud to continue to invest in projects that protect our natural resources while leveraging the economic benefits of our coastal areas through this grant program.”

“Through the Mass Leads Act, our administration is committed to putting every region and industry on a path toward prosperity, including by making investments in the coastal communities that play a critical role in our state's economic future," said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. "We are excited to open this next round of funding through the Seaport Economic Council grant program and look forward to investing in projects that will build capacity, improve resiliency, and expand opportunity in cities and towns up and down our shores."

“Working waterfronts are an important part of our state's economic future,” said Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao. “By investing in redevelopment, infrastructure improvement, and resiliency efforts in our coastal communities, the Seaport Economic Council grants will support the long-term environmental and economic health of our state.”

“Coastal communities are important centers of economic activity for our state,” said Undersecretary of Economic Foundations Ashley Stolba, Vice Chair of the Seaport Economic Council. “The Seaport Economic Council is committed to working with all 78 of Massachusetts' coastal cities and towns to ensure they have the resources they need to invest in critical waterfront infrastructure projects.” 

“We appreciate the Healey-Driscoll administration visiting Marion and seeing results of our positive relationship with the Seaport Economic Council,” said Marion Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman. “As a historic coastal community, these grant opportunities are pivotal to our smart growth and support the maintenance of our harbor resources.”

The Seaport Economic Council serves all 78 of the state's coastal communities. The Council awards grant funding to municipalities large and small and other entities in support of projects that promote job creation and economic growth, transformative public-private partnerships, educational opportunities for young people, local economic development planning efforts, coastal infrastructure improvements, and the planning and permitting of saltwater dredging. The Seaport Economic Council has invested more than $93 million through 206 grants in 56 coastal communities since 2015.

The Mass Leads Act proposes $100 million in funding to recapitalize the Seaport Economic Council grant program and invest in projects that improve, repair, maintain and protect our state’s coastal assets against climate change. 

The FY25 application round will open on June 3 and applications must be submitted through the Seaport Economic Council website by June 28.

About the Seaport Economic Council 
The Seaport Economic Council advances the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s support for all 78 of Massachusetts’ coastal communities and residents across the state by leveraging unique economic assets to drive sustainable regional growth. The Council’s capital grant program supports working waterfronts, local tourism, coastal resiliency, and maritime innovation, from the North Shore to Cape Cod and the South Coast.  Since August 2015, the Seaport Economic Council has invested more than $93 million in the state's coastal communities.