Massachusetts is putting another $1.9 million into year-round housing in its tourist towns, and for the first time some of that money is headed to the Berkshires.
Gov. Maura Healey's administration announced the funding Tuesday through the Seasonal Communities Grant Program, WBUR reported in a story from the State House News Service. The money goes to all 24 legally designated seasonal communities in the state to advance efforts that could add 594 year-round housing units.
Communities on Cape Cod and the Islands and in Berkshire County have long struggled with tourism's effect on their limited housing.
"We know that every community has different needs, and there's no one-size-fits-all solution to the housing challenges they're facing," Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said. "These grants give local leaders the resources and flexibility to move important projects forward."
Where the money goes
Two early-stage Cape Cod projects account for most of the units, according to WBUR:
- Wellfleet got $69,800 for a feasibility study on converting a campground into affordable and workforce housing, which could mean up to 250 units.
- Truro's plan to move ahead with pre-construction work on a wastewater treatment facility at a parcel called the Walsh Property accounts for 160 units.
The largest grant to a single town is $150,000 to Falmouth, for construction of 46 new affordable units.
Other awards support smaller projects. Eastham got $78,800 for pre-development work to convert the Beach Plum Hotel into four affordable units. Another $59,500 will go to site preparation on town-owned land that could eventually produce six units, WBUR reported.
The Berkshires get in
Lawmakers and Healey expanded and formalized the seasonal communities designation in a 2024 housing law. It automatically covered every municipality in Dukes and Nantucket counties, Barnstable County towns where more than 35% of housing units are seasonal, and Berkshire County towns where more than 40% are seasonal. Other towns could vote to opt in.
The first round of grants earlier this year sent $1.9 million to 14 communities, all on the Cape and Islands. No Berkshire County town had voted to accept the designation by the fiscal 2026 cutoff, so none could get money. This round was their first chance.
Six of the 24 communities this time are in Berkshire County. Together they get $420,460, or about 22% of the total, and account for 40 housing units, according to WBUR.
"Too many young people and working families are being priced out," said Rep. Leigh Davis of Great Barrington. "We need to make sure the people who grow up here, raise families here, and keep our towns running can afford to stay. These grants will help our communities do just that."
How the program is funded
The administration launched the program in its fiscal 2026 Five Year Capital Investment Plan, with up to $2 million in fiscal 2026 and $2 million in fiscal 2027. The money is distributed by a formula weighted by population.
By the numbers
A little math of our own from the reported figures: Wellfleet's 250 potential units and Truro's 160 add up to 410, or about 69% of the 594 units cited. Most of the rest are spread across smaller projects.
Why it matters for contractors
These are small grants, but they're the kind of seed money that moves projects from idea to bid. Feasibility studies, pre-development work, site prep and wastewater planning come before construction, and they show where housing work could come next on the Cape, the Islands and in the Berkshires.
The Truro wastewater project is worth noting for civil and utility contractors. Wastewater capacity can limit how much housing a site can support. Falmouth's grant is tied directly to construction of 46 affordable units, so local builders and subs should watch for that bid.
In the Berkshires, six towns now have money for the first time. Contractors there should get to know their town housing committees and planning offices. That's where these projects will take shape before they ever reach a bid list.