The Baker-Polito Administration announced nearly $5 million in awards to 31 communities throughout the Commonwealth through two new grant programs under the Housing Choice Initiative.
The Housing Choice Initiative, introduced by Governor Charlie Baker in December 2017, is a comprehensive effort to support the creation of 135,000 new housing units by 2025 to meet the housing needs of Massachusetts’s families, workforce and residents. The Housing Choice Initiative provides incentives, rewards and technical assistance reform to encourage and empower municipalities to plan and build the diverse housing stock that the Commonwealth needs to continue to thrive.
The administration awarded $4 million to 19 communities through the Housing Choice Capital Grant Program, and nearly $1 million to 12 communities through the Housing Choice Small Town Grant Program.
“Our administration is focused on developing a healthy housing market for Massachusetts’ long-term success, with diverse housing options that are affordable for families and residents across the income spectrum,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The Housing Choice Initiative is a bold, multi-pronged effort to address the issue, from legislation to grant programs. We are thrilled to celebrate another Housing Choice milestone, and continue to look for opportunities to partner with municipalities to further our shared goals of an inclusive Commonwealth that meets the needs of our residents, and enables them to thrive.”
In July, the administration announced two new, competitive grant programs to provide new resources to communities pursuing high-impact housing and economic development projects. The Housing Choice Capital Grant Program is available for cities and towns designated as Housing Choice Communities, and the Housing Choice Small Town Capital Grant Program is available for towns with populations less than 7,000 people.
The list of communities that were funded along with the full press announcement is available here.