Applications available for 4th round of MassWorks Infrastructure Grant Program

Housing and Economic Development Secretary Greg Bialecki today announced that the fourth round of the annual MassWorks Infrastructure Grant Program will be open to new applications between June 1 and Aug. 29.

The MassWorks Infrastructure Program provides a one-stop shop for municipalities and other eligible public entities seeking funding to support housing, economic development and job creation, Bialecki said. The program also supports municipalities with populations of up to 7,000 that may seek grants for road improvements to enhance safety.

The 2014 grant round will support housing or commercial growth opportunities that contribute to the long-term strength and sustainability of Massachusetts, with a particular emphasis on projects that support the production of multi-family housing in appropriately located mixed-use districts or that support economic development in weak or distressed areas. The MassWorks Program encourages communities to apply for projects where they have planned ahead for such growth by implementing prompt and predictable permitting and zoning that supports the desired growth.

The materials for the fourth round of grants and the electronic application system are now online, giving public entities a 10-week head start on gathering information they need to apply for these grants in August. A copy of the 2014 application, guidelines, FAQs and other relevant materials are available at http://mass.gov/hed/massworks.

All data submitted during the 2011, 2012 and 2013 grant rounds will be available to previous applicants for updating, making reapplying easier. All decisions will be rendered within approximately eight weeks.

In total, the past three grant rounds of the MassWorks Infrastructure Program have assisted more than 100 projects with more than $180 million in infrastructure improvement projects across the state, according to the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development.

The first competitive MassWorks grant round was held in September 2011. In the latest round, the administration approved 33 projects worth more than $79 million.

The MassWorks Program represents six capital budget programs that were consolidated by the Patrick administration in 2011 and codified by the jobs bill signed by the governor in August 2012.

For more information about the MassWorks Infrastructure Program, visit http://mass.gov/hed/massworks.