The Healey-Driscoll administration and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s (MassTech) Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) announced $10,410,183 in grants to upgrade internet access in nearly 8,000 public and affordable housing across 26 Massachusetts communities. MBI provided the awards through the Residential Retrofit Program, an initiative that works with housing operators and internet service providers (ISPs) to upgrade broadband infrastructure in public and affordable housing properties.
The projects will install modern cabling in each unit, increasing residents’ access to high-quality, reliable and affordable broadband service. The Residential Retrofit Program prioritizes ISPs that offer affordable, quality service to decrease the cost of access.
MBI launched the Retrofit program in February 2024. The first round of awards, which totaled $6.3 million and targeted infrastructure in more than 3,000 housing units, followed in December 2024. On January 23, 2025, MBI announced $12.6 million to expand internet access in 96 cities and towns through its Gap Networks Program, which funds the deployment of broadband infrastructure to connect unserved and underserved communities across Massachusetts.
Funding for both programs comes from the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Listed below are the providers and public housing operators receiving awards:
Aervivo Inc. ($6,349,108 for 6,446 housing units)
Aervivo Inc.’s Connectivity Platform enables partners to deploy fiber-grade hybrid networks to small and large communities across the state. In their proposal for the Residential Retrofit Program, Aervivo Inc. offered income-eligible broadband plans of at least 100Mbps/100Mbps and up to 1000Mbps/1000Mbps within each property they serve.
| Housing Operator | City/Town | Total Units |
|---|---|---|
| Carr Property Management: Emerson Manor, Genesis House | Longmeadow | 208 |
| First Hartford Realty Management: Clarendon Hill Towers | Somerville | 501 |
| Hearthway Inc.: Highland Woods LLC, Williamstown Elderly Housing Corp. | Williamstown | 100 |
| Holyoke Housing Authority: Beaudoin Village | Holyoke | 217 |
| Holyoke Housing Authority: Beaudry Apartments, Zielinski Apts, Rosary Towers, Toepfert Apartments | Holyoke | 289 |
| Norton Housing Authority – Woodland Meadows I | Norton | 130 |
| Preservation of Affordable Housing: Fairweather Apartments | Salem | 321 |
| Preservation of Affordable Housing: Gardner Terrace | Attleboro | 92 |
| Preservation of Affordable Housing: Kings Landing | Brewster | 108 |
| Preservation of Affordable Housing: Machado House at Peter’s Grove | Hudson | 96 |
| Preservation of Affordable Housing: Rock Harbor Village | Orleans | 100 |
| Quincy Housing Authority: Harborview, Riverview, Snug Harbor, Little Snug Harbor, and Crowley Court | Quincy | 625 |
| Quincy Housing Authority: Pagnano Towers | Quincy | 156 |
| Redwood Housing: Clark House | Amherst | 100 |
| Related Affordable: Centennial Island Apartments | Lowell | 118 |
| Related Affordable: Loring Towers | Salem | 250 |
| Related Affordable: Olde English Village | Gardner | 200 |
| Related Affordable: Plantation Towers | Worcester | 107 |
| Related Affordable: Skyview Downtown | Springfield | 489 |
| Related Affordable: The Green House and Chelsea Square Apts. | Chelsea | 151 |
| Related Affordable: Village Park | Amherst | 200 |
| Related Affordable: Washington Heights Apartments | Worcester | 404 |
| Related Affordable: Westminster Village Arms | Lowell | 432 |
| The Caleb Group: Mohawk Forest | North Adams | 190 |
| Trinity Financial: Courthouse Lofts | Worcester | 118 |
| Trinity Financial: Regency Affordable | New Bedford | 129 |
| Trinity Financial: Till Building | Chelsea | 23 |
| Worcester Housing Authority: Great Brook Valley and Gardens Apts. | Worcester | 592 |
Archtop Fiber Inc. ($379,488 for 192 housing units)
Archtop Fiber is an ISP specializing in acquiring, constructing and operating modern fiber optic networks. Archtop’s Network Design is 100 percent fiber optic and will reliably provide 8Gbps symmetrical service.
| Housing Operator | City/Town | Total Units |
|---|---|---|
| Hearthway Inc.: Bentley Apartments LLC, Bostwick Gardens, Christian Hill Commons, and Windrush Commons | Great Barrington | 192 |
Comcast Cable Communications ($2,158,979 for 740 housing units)
Comcast operates one of the largest fiber deployments in the nation. In their proposal, Comcast offered income-eligible broadband plans of at least 100Mbps/100Mbps for each property they serve.
| Housing Operator | City/Town | Total Units |
|---|---|---|
| Holyoke Housing Authority: Churchill Homes, Coughlin Apartments, Edwin A. Seibel Apts., and Falcetti Towers | Holyoke | 279 |
| Holyoke Housing Authority: Congregate Housing | Holyoke | 20 |
| Preservation of Affordable Housing: Canal Bluffs and Clay Pond Cove | Bourne | 76 |
| Preservation of Affordable Housing: Terrapin Ridge | Sandwich | 30 |
| Preservation of Affordable Housing: The Residences at Melpet Farm | Dennis | 27 |
| Preservation of Affordable Housing: Torrey Woods | Weymouth | 20 |
| Redwood Housing: Olympia Towers and Young House | New Bedford | 134 |
| The Caleb Group: Chestnut Square Apartments | Lowell | 42 |
| The Caleb Group: LePage Apartments and Pond View Village | Gloucester | 77 |
| Trinity Financial: Water Street Apts | Medford | 35 |
RingSquared APC LLC DBA AccessPlus ($1,522,607 for 587 housing units)
RingSquared APC LLC DBA AccessPlus will provide these project groups with high-speed broadband service delivered over an end-to-end fiber network. In their proposal, RingSquared offered income-eligible broadband plans of at least 500Mbps/500Mbps within each property they serve.
| Housing Operator | City/Town | Total Units |
|---|---|---|
| Hearthway Inc.: Capitol Square Apts. Epworth Arms Apts., Pittsfield Ymca, Redfield House Apts. LLC, and Rice Silk Mill | Pittsfield | 220 |
| Hearthway Inc.: Cherry St. and George St. | Pittsfield | 8 |
| Pittsfield Housing Authority: Christopher Arms, Columbia Arms, Francis Plaza and Providence Court | Pittsfield | 258 |
| Preservation of Affordable Housing: Central Annex and Union Court | Pittsfield | 101 |
MBI is currently seeking eligible housing operators for future funding under the Residential Retrofit Program. As a first step, housing operators must fill out an expression of interest by Friday, March 28 to be considered.