Last week, Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao and Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus gathering in Worcester to announce more than $161 million for 313 grant awards to support local economic development projects in 171 communities across the Commonwealth.
The grant awards were made through the Community One Stop for Growth, a single application portal that provides a streamlined, collaborative review process for 12 state grant programs that fund economic development projects related to community capacity building, planning and zoning, site preparation, building construction and infrastructure.
Since the program’s inception, AHF has worked with project partners to apply for Community One Stop grant funding to support a range of development activity at their respective sites. AHF is pleased to announce that two AHF supported projects have received grant funding during this round.
Worcester Memorial Auditorium, Worcester
MassWorks Infrastructure program will provide $1,000,000 to the City of Worcester for the continued revitalization of the Worcester Auditorium.
Overview: The Worcester Memorial Auditorium is a magnificent performance venue that towers above Worcester’s Lincoln Square.Throughout the twentieth century, the Aud was the center of Worcester’s civic and cultural life, but it has been empty and underutilized for years. AHF has a contract with the City of Worcester to spearhead the redevelopment of the Aud.
Funding will help create a multipurpose, technology-forward, entertainment facility and AI Innovation Center.
AHF involvement: AHF has partnered with the City of Worcester to revitalize the Worcester Memorial Auditorium.
Wright Building, Pittsfield
The Underutilized Properties Program is providing $626,732 to the Allegrone Companies.
Overview: Allegrone Companies are renovating the National Register listed Wright Building, preserving and restoring its historic facade while updating its infrastructure, systems, and finishes to support new residential and retail uses. The redevelopment additionally will address a blighted adjacent property and will create a pedestrian corridor behind both buildings. The full project will transform almost an entire city block in downtown Pittsfield.
Funding will be used for Wright Building Block Phase II, converting the building into 14 more mixed-income housing units and two storefronts.
AHF involvement: facilitated sessions to determine the most competitive approach, compiling developer’s data and budgets into a compelling story and timely grant application.
A big congratulations to all the awardees! See the full list here.
