NEWS

Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces $161 Million for Economic Development Projects that Include Senior Housing and COAs

Oct 28, 2024

Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao and Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus announced more than $161 million for 313 grant awards to support local economic development projects in 171 communities across the state. Many of the projects involve improvements to senior housing and councils on aging.

The awards were made through theĀ Community One Stop for Growth, an application portal overseen by the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) that provides a streamlined process for municipalities and organizations to apply for 12 state grant programs that fund economic development projects related to planning and zoning, site preparation, building construction, infrastructure, and housing development.

Overall, EOED estimates the One Stop awards will help create more than 18,000 new units of housing, including 4,000 new affordable units, 31,000 new permanent jobs, and more than 14 million square feet of new commercial development.

Projects that will benefit older adults include the following:

  • The City of Springfield will use this $500,000 grant for pre-development activities to repurpose the historic Brightwood Elementary School into affordable senior housing, creating approximately 57 apartments through adaptive reuse of the school building and new construction addition, which will be Passive House certified. Another $250,000 grant will be used by MPZ Development LLC for the same project.
  • The Mansfield Housing Authority will use a $69,480 grant to leverage owned land to create additional units of affordable senior housing, engaging a consultant to develop an RFP and determining impact on NHESP habitat.
  • Town of Middlefield will use a $100,000 grant to remove debris from the Middlefield Senior Center’s crawlspace, install a plastic vapor barrier and crushed stone on dirt floor, construct structural repairs to main beams and joists, complete emergency generator and electrical upgrades to the building, and install a new HVAC moisture control system.
  • The Merrimack Valley Planning Commission will use a $120,000 grant to work with Methuen, Boxford, and Newbury to implement key strategies from their recently updated Housing Production Plans related to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) and Inclusionary Zoning (IZ).

Many other projects aim to improve pedestrian safety, access to public transit and rehab outdated housing, which may also benefit older adults. The full list of projects is available here.