On October 24th, the Community One Stop for Growth programs announced $161m in awards for 313 projects, including MVOC’s housing expansion project!
That blurry little figure is MVOC’s Executive Director, along with all other awardees and statewide officials present at the announcement.
In this funding round, MVOC was awarded just over $876k for the redevelopment of the Poland and Streeter Elementary schools in Winchendon MA into 44 1-bedroom units of affordable apartments for veterans.
This award comes nearly a month after the project broke ground, helping to fill the funding gap that remains in this $25m+ project.
Community One Stop awards are made through the Executive Office of Economic Development and serve as an opportunities for municipalities and organizations to apply for 12 state grant programs in one streamlined application. Funds are dedicated towards planning and zoning, site preparation, building construction, infrastructure, and housing development.
“We are proud to be a state of strong cities and towns, made stronger by programs like the Community One Stop for Growth, which deliver the resources our communities need to grow their local economies and meet the needs of their residents,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Communities will use these grants to build more housing and lower costs, improve road safety, revitalize their downtowns, create new jobs and more. We can’t wait to see the results of these investments all across the state.”
“The One Stop is an important vehicle for supporting our communities by empowering them to pursue their vision for economic growth,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “By working together and keeping our focus at the local level, we are creating opportunity, supporting affordability, and enhancing quality of life for all of our residents.”
Pictured here: MVOC on site at the Poland and Street school ceremonial groundbreaking
Through this round of the One Stop, EOED received 756 applications from 510 organizations with projects in 229 communities across the state. Of the 313 applications awarded, 33 percent are located in a rural or small town, 32 percent are located in a Gateway City, 48 percent are located in a Housing Choice Community, and 50 percent are located in an MBTA Community. 40 communities are receiving a grant through the One Stop for the first time.
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.
For more information about MVOC’s project, including how you can support it, check HERE.
