CHELSEA - On July 25, 2024 at Chelsea City Hall, Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus were joined by members of the Legislature and municipal leaders from across the state to award $39 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). The awards will go to 65 communities across the state. 

The CDBG Program is designed to help small cities and towns meet a broad range of community development needs, such as housing, community, and economic development projects that assist low-and moderate-income residents or revitalize areas of blight. Communities may apply alone, or multiple communities may join and apply together.   

“Our cities and towns use these Community Development Block Grants to fix their roadways, expand their housing options, and improve the quality of life they offer their residents,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Our administration is grateful to the Biden administration, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and our federal delegation for their work, and we are thrilled to see how this grant funding will positively impact our local communities. We know how important it is to invest in our communities, and these CDBG awards, combined with our Affordable Homes Act, will help us move forward with our commitment to making Massachusetts more competitive, affordable, and equitable." 

“CDBG Grant funding plays a critical role in giving our cities and towns the flexible resources they need to make a real impact on the lives of Massachusetts residents,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “From park improvements to road repairs, these investments will strengthen and revitalize our local communities.”  

CDBG funds are allocated annually to Massachusetts through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and administered by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. This round of grants includes $29.8M in Community Development Fund awards, and an additional $9.2 million in Mini-Entitlement awards. 

“This federal funding will support the much-needed housing rehabilitation of 189 units across the state and fund critical local infrastructure projects,” said Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus. “Whether it’s a sidewalk renovation or providing childcare, this funding goes directly into the programs and services residents need most. Congratulations to this year’s awardees.”    

“We are thrilled by this year’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program,” said Chelsea City Manager Fidel A. Maltez. “This grant will support a significant street and sidewalk infrastructure project on Bloomingdale Street, which is one of the most heavily trafficked areas in our city, and home to a large Chelsea Housing Authority building that houses 210 senior and disabled residents. The upgrades will directly benefit 3,465 residents, 75% of whom are low or moderate income. The grant will also fund new and existing social service programs, including Citizenship and Immigration Services, English as a Second Language, youth dropout prevention, and senior food delivery programming. Our local budget to implement proactive capital improvements and social service goals is limited, and the CDBG program is a key resource for our community. The Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities is an invaluable resource, providing not only funding but also technical assistance. We are extremely grateful to receive funds that continue to benefit our community in profound ways.”

Full Awardee List:  

- Agawam: $949,999 to support Phase 1 of the Moore and Valley Streets infrastructure improvement project
- Amherst: $925,000 to support North Pleasant Street Public infrastructure improvements, microenterprise assistance program, social services (mobile food market, food pantry, youth services, ESOL, homelessness prevention)   
- Athol: $950,000 to support the South & Freedom Streets infrastructure improvement project
- Ayer: $287,350 for the purpose of rehabilitating 7 housing units
- Becket and Dalton: $999,810 for the purpose of rehabilitating 14 housing units
- Brewster, Dennis and Wellfleet: $1,375,000 for the purpose of rehabilitating 14 housing units and providing social services (childcare subsidy program)
- Buckland, Colrain and Ashfield: $1,375,000 for the purpose of rehabilitating 16 housing units
- Chelsea: $925,000 to support the Bloomingdale Street sidewalk renovation project, social services (citizenship services, ESOL, youth services, elder food delivery)
- Chester, Middlefield, Huntington and Russell: $1,375,000 to support the Prospect Street infrastructure improvement project (Phase III), to rehabilitate 4 housing units, and provide social services (economic self-sufficiency, food pantry, adult education, domestic violence prevention)
- Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Peru, Plainfield, Westhampton, Williamsburg and Worthington: $1,330,545 for the purpose of rehabilitating 11 housing units and providing social services (elder self-sufficiency, food pantry)
- Easthampton: $670,715 to support the design of the Town Lodging House
- Edgartown, West Tisbury and Aquinnah: $1,375,000 for the purpose of rehabilitating 14 housing units and providing social services (childcare subsidy program)
- Everett: $925,000 for the purpose of rehabilitating 8 housing units and providing social services (food pantry, ESOL, youth services, homelessness prevention, elder services)
- Fairhaven: $923,376 to support Phase IV of the Hedge Street infrastructure improvements project
- Gardner: $925,000 to support the demolition of School Street School and to provide social services (domestic violence prevention, youth services, food pantry, homelessness prevention)
- Great Barrington, Egremont and Stockbridge: $1,375,000 for the purpose of rehabilitating 16 housing units
- Greenfield: $925,000 to support the Downtown water main replacement design, microenterprise assistance, to rehabilitate 4 housing units, and provide social services (elder services, ESOL, homelessness prevention, food pantry)
- Hardwick: $950,000 to support the Highland Terrace infrastructure improvements project
- Huntington: $950,000 to support the Stanton Avenue infrastructure improvements project  
- Lenox and Lee: $1,000,000 for the purpose of rehabilitating 11 housing units
- Mashpee: $462,454 for the purpose of rehabilitating 10 housing units
- Millbury: $610,000 to support the Linden Apartments infrastructure project
- Montague: $938,328 to support the Montague public parking lot repaving project, to rehabilitate 7 housing units, and provide social services (ESOL, elder meal services, elder self-sufficiency, substance abuse counseling)
- North Adams: $925,000 to support B2024 roads improvements, senior center improvements (phase III), and provide social services (youth services, meal delivery, youth literacy)  
- North Brookfield: $939,000 to support the Mount Pleasant Street improvement project
- Northbridge: $950,000 to support Phase I of the Church Avenue reconstruction.
- Oak Bluffs, Tisbury and Chilmark: $1,375,000 for the purpose of rehabilitating 14 housing units and provide social services (childcare subsidy program)
- Orange: $689,464 to support the Architectural Barrier Removal (audible pedestrian signal chirp boxes), rehabilitate 4 housing units, provide social services (elder self-sufficiency, elder meal services, advocacy services for people with disabilities, food pantry, adult education), and planning (Slum and Blight Study)
- Palmer: $950,000 to support Phase II of the Maple Terrace improvement project and provide social services (job-related transportation assistance, domestic violence services)
- Randolph: $950,000 for the purpose of rehabilitating 9 housing units and providing social services (childcare subsidy program)
- Salisbury: $950,000 to support Phase III of the Meaders Lane Neighborhood infrastructure improvements, to rehabilitate 3 housing units, and provide social services (job-related childcare assistance, elder self-sufficiency, food pantry, emergency assistance)
- South Hadley: $950,000 to support the Center Street Neighborhood infrastructure improvement project
- Southbridge: $925,000 to support the North Street Neighborhood infrastructure improvements, and code enforcement
- Southwick: $948,350 to support Phase I of the North Lake Avenue infrastructure improvement project, the Town Hall elevator modernization project, and provide social services (food pantry)
- Truro, Provincetown, Eastham and Harwich: $1,375,000 for the purpose of rehabilitating 15 housing units and providing social services (childcare subsidy program)
- Wareham: $925,000 to support the Evergreen House rehab., Housing rehab. (8 units), and provide social services (youth services, food pantry, transportation assistance, homelessness prevention)
- Warren: $950,000 to support the River Street and Central Street infrastructure improvements project, and design for Cutter Park Improvements
- Webster: $925,000 to support the Park Street reconstruction project
- West Springfield: $893,828 to support the Belle Avenue storm drainage system project, the Boys and Girls Club improvement project (phase V), and provide social services (economic self-sufficiency, youth services, food pantry, job training)
- Winchendon: $946,025 to support the Beech Street infrastructure improvements project