Before anybody frames a wall, somebody has to build the road, lay the water and sewer lines and get the site ready. That's the work a big chunk of the state's newest grant round is paying for.
On Oct. 1, Gov. Maura Healey announced $330 million for more than 400 local economic development and housing projects in 207 communities through the Community One Stop for Growth. According to the governor's office, it's the largest amount of One Stop money ever issued in a single round.
The state says the awards will support more than 27,000 new homes, more than 13,000 permanent jobs and more than 7 million square feet of new commercial development. It estimates they'll help unlock $24.6 billion in private investment.
"This is the roads, water, and site work that has to happen before a single home can be built," said Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Juana Matias.
Where the money goes
The awards come through 14 grant programs run by the Executive Office of Economic Development, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and MassDevelopment. The four biggest:
- HousingWorks Infrastructure Program: $109,703,144 for 54 projects.
- MassWorks Infrastructure Program: $105,110,000 for 59 projects.
- MBTA Community Catalyst Fund: $51,101,991 for 24 projects.
- Underutilized Properties Program: $17,302,716 for 35 projects.
Other programs include the Seaport Economic Council grants ($12.1 million), the Rural Development Fund ($10 million), Housing Choice grants (about $7 million), Site Readiness ($4.6 million) and the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund ($1,045,000 for five projects).
According to the state, 36% of the projects are in rural communities, 24% are in Gateway Cities and half are in MBTA Communities. Thirteen communities are getting One Stop money for the first time. Linda Dunlavy of the Franklin Regional Council of Governments said the rural projects total nearly $78 million.
The program has grown into a major source of local construction money. Since it launched in 2021, the One Stop has made more than 1,900 awards totaling more than $1 billion, reaching 319 of the state's 351 cities and towns, according to the state.
Some of the bigger awards
The state's award spreadsheet shows the largest single grant in the round, $8,028,724, going to Lynn for its South Harbor project through HousingWorks. Waltham is getting $7.5 million for the Green Street Connector, and Malden is getting $7 million from the MBTA Community Catalyst program for Overlook Ridge 14B.
A long list of communities received $5 million awards, including Amesbury for Clarks Road reconstruction, Oxford for New Orchard Hill roads, Springfield for the second phase of its public realm work, Brockton for Brockton Yards stormwater and Campello Phase 2, Chelsea for Spruce Street, Gloucester for wastewater treatment plant improvements, Palmer for a sewer project and Swansea for its sewer collection system.
State Rep. Carole Fiola said Fall River's $5 million for the Alden Street Corridor "will give Flint Village the streets, sidewalks and utilities to support hundreds of new homes from the commuter rail expansion."
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said the city's six HousingWorks projects will pay for "the infrastructure behind new homes, including streets, sidewalks, and water and sewer lines." Senate President Karen Spilka pointed to support for Framingham's plan to convert an office building into housing.
Worcester City Manager Eric Batista said the money will help the city move forward on projects including demolition of the old Denholm Building and road construction for Greentech Park.
Frank Callahan, president of the Massachusetts Building Trades Unions, said the investments "promote and sustain job growth and a stronger economy."
Why it matters for Contractors
This is a big round of public work for site, civil and utility contractors. Road reconstruction, sewer and water lines, stormwater systems, streetscapes, demolition and site preparation show up again and again on the award list, and much of it has to be finished before private housing and commercial projects can move ahead. Most of these jobs will be bid out by the cities and towns that won the grants, so contractors should watch municipal bid postings in the communities on the list, especially where they already work. With more than 400 projects spread across 207 communities, from Lynn and Brockton to Oxford and Palmer, there's work in nearly every corner of the state. The state hasn't named contractors for any of the projects.