Patrick-Murray Administration Approves 23 New Massworks Infrastructure Program Projects To Support Job Creation

Posted by jcashman

The Patrick-Murray Administration today approved 23 new MassWorks Infrastructure Program grants to advance local development projects across the state. The new grants bring the state’s total investment in MassWorks to nearly $61 million, supporting thousands of jobs in Massachusetts communities. Through these grants, the state will partner with cities and towns to support housing developments, infrastructure investments, road safety and downtown revitalization projects.

“Our Administration has made historic investments to help communities improve their infrastructure and create jobs,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “The MassWorks Infrastructure Program is a great example of our how we can stimulate local economies and support projects that will benefit communities for generations to come.”

“The MassWorks Infrastructure Program is an efficient and effective resource that supports local and regional economic growth,” said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray. “Through the MassWorks program, our Administration works closely with cities and towns to provide municipalities with one-stop-shop services to improve infrastructure and create development ready sites that will spur business expansion and job creation.”

MassWorks is administered by the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (HED) and represents a consolidation of six capital budget programs, giving communities a single entry point and one set of requirements for the state’s public infrastructure grants. The consolidation created efficiencies and streamlined the decision-making process, increasing access for municipalities and enhancing partnerships around economic development and housing.

“The Patrick-Murray Administration has been committed to creating jobs and spurring economic development in every corner of the Commonwealth,” said HED Secretary Greg Bialecki. “These MassWorks projects will help accomplish that goal by helping local communities make much needed improvements to their infrastructure and make it easier for businesses to expand and create jobs. The outstanding response to our first grant round demonstrates that the objectives of the consolidation are working.”

The first competitive MassWorks grant round was held this September, bringing in 158 applications for more than $400 million in infrastructure grants submitted by cities and towns from across the state. Applications were reviewed for consistency with the program’s priorities, including readiness to proceed with construction and the state’s sustainable development principles.

The Patrick-Murray Administration approved the following projects for funding:

Athol - $881,993 for the Traverse Street Infrastructure Project providing 30 additional parking spaces, accessible walkways and will increase pedestrian safety and access to the downtown area, including the YMCA. This project is identified as a regional priority in the Montachusett Region Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and will contribute significantly to the revitalization of the Athol downtown.

Bernardston - $399,993 for School Road improvements to repair an existing public safety hazard around the Bernardston Elementary School (BES). This project is identified as a regional priority by the Franklin Regional Council of Governments and the town has provided a $45,000 local match for this grant.

Bernardston - $275,000 for improvements to the intersection of South Street, Bernardston Road and West Mountain Road to improve access to two new businesses located at the Kringle Candle complex that are expected to generate 75 new full and part time jobs, and will facilitate additional job creation opportunities at other local companies in the area. This project is identified as a regional priority by the Franklin Regional Council of Governments.

Chelmsford - $475,000 for a traffic signal at the intersection of Billerica Road and Elliott Street enabling a long-term commitment and reinvestment by Kronos to retain and grow jobs at its global headquarters in Chelmsford. This project is identified in 2020 Vision: Planning for Growth in the Northern Middlesex Region.

Florida - $528,000 to improve two sections of River Road, which serve both residents and tourists and is a rural connector that supports motorists throughout the region. This project has been identified as a regional priority by the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission.

Gardner - $500,000 for the Main Street Signalization and Roadway Realignment to enable the development of 120,000 square feet of new commercial/office space and to facilitate the redevelopment of 400,000 square feet of vacant industrial/warehouse/office space in the direct vicinity of the project. The project is identified as a regional priority in the Montachusett Region Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, and the infrastructure and private projects combined are expected to create over 100 construction jobs and over 150 full-time, permanent jobs for the city.

Hubbardston - $1 million for the repair and rehabilitation of Grimes, Hale, Healdville and Ragged Hill Roads. The grant matches a $1,988,000 investment by the town to rehabilitate deteriorating roadways. This project has been identified in the Montachusett Regional Planning Council Master Plan as an important regional project.

Littleton - $1.8 million for roadway safety and capacity improvements to Route 119/Great Road to assist with the redevelopment of the former Cisco Systems site which expects to break ground in the spring and to provide improved access to the IBM Mass Lab Facility. This former Cisco Systems site has been identified as a development priority in the ongoing 495/MetroWest Development Compact and site redevelopment is expected to create 400 jobs.

Lowell - $1.5 million to advance phase 1A of the Rivers Edge project to create 28 housing units including 14 single-family homes and seven two-family homes. This project is identified in 2020 Vision: Planning for Growth in the Northern Middlesex Region.

Lynn - $500,000 for the rehabilitation of the city’s Seaport Landing Marina. These improvements will help maintain the vitality of the Heritage State Park, the existing residences at Seaport Landing and to spur future housing and commercial development on the waterfront.

Newton - $1.8 million for public improvements to support the Chestnut Hill redevelopment project. The improvements will serve to facilitate the redevelopment of the blighted site that will serve the Chestnut Hill Square project and will also allow for redevelopment of underutilized properties along the Route 9 corridor and its intersecting roadways.

New Bedford - $1.2 million for roadway and streetscape improvements to provide pedestrian access to the Acushnet Avenue International Marketplace that will revitalize downtown and stimulate small business growth in one of the most historical culturally diverse areas of the city. The total MassWorks program investment in this project is $3,250,000.

Peabody - $1.5 million to realign the Main Street Corridor in downtown Peabody to improve pedestrian safety and improve downtown business development, including the development of 100 new housing units. This area has been identified in the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission’s MetroFutures Plan as an area of priority development and growth, and the city has committed $200,000 toward this project.

Pittsfield - $1.1 million for improvements to the McKay Street Parking Garage to promote continued business development and downtown revitalization, including downtown housing development. The total MassWorks program investment in this project is $3.6 million. The project has been identified as a regional priority in the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission’s regional plan, and the city has committed $2 million toward construction costs.

Princeton - $450,000 to reconstruct Mirick Road, a connector road between Routes 31 and 140 which will improve motorist safety.

Quincy - $5.1 million for the Town Brook Culvert Restoration project, which is the critical infrastructure improvement necessitating the $1.5B downtown Quincy redevelopment project. The total MassWorks program investment in this project is $10.1 million. The Metropolitan Area Planning Commission has identified this as a high priority project consistent with their MetroFutures Plan.

Revere - $995,985 for pedestrian access connecting a planned mixed-use redevelopment project to the Wonderland Station Transit Station and Revere Beach.

Rockland - $535,740 for water line installation in conjunction with Southfield’s East-West Parkway. The project will facilitate future economic development by easing the burden of providing water supply to the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station from Weymouth and will provide water to approximately 720,000 square feet of new industrial and commercial space to be developed on approximately 81 acres of landlocked property within Rockland that will be opened for development by the Parkway. The Metropolitan Area Planning Commission has identified this as a high priority project consistent with their MetroFutures Plan.

Saugus - $841,568 to relocate and replace failing water mains located under Route 1 North. This project will enable the redevelopment of 114,000 square feet of new retail development along Route 1. The total MassWorks investment in this project is $2,841,568. The Metropolitan Area Planning Commission has identified this as a high priority project consistent with their MetroFutures Plan.

Springfield - $420,000 for the Springfield Redevelopment Authority to advance the Court Square redevelopment project of the Shean Block at 1208-1220 Main St.

Taunton - $149,360 for construction of an access road to enable expansion of the Myles Standish Business Park, which is projected to create 466 jobs in the next phase of redevelopment. The total MassWorks program investment in this project is $3,149,360. This project is included in the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.

Topsfield - $550,000 for the rehabilitation of Rowley Bridge Road Bridge. These improvements are critical to enable the town to reopen the bridge which was closed due to safety concerns.

Williamsburg - $420,000 for roadway improvements to Chesterfield Road, also known as Route 143, to improve regional motorist access to and from the Hilltowns.

To learn more about the MassWorks Infrastructure Program and how it is supporting job growth and long term, sustainable economic development, please visit: www.mass.gov/eohed/infrastructure.

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