By Tiffany Williams –
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll administration is pumping $1,939,250 into cities, towns and regional agencies in a bid to supercharge Massachusetts’ pursuit of federal infrastructure dollars.
The grants, announced at the monthly Federal Funds Partnership meeting hosted by the Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office, flow through two pipelines: the Municipal and Tribal Technical Assistance program and the Technical Assistance for Regional Planning Agencies program. The mission is blunt — give local governments the technical muscle to chase, win and manage federal funding.
“These awards will allow municipalities to build safer roadways, invest in clean energy projects, and build more housing across the state,” said Governor Maura Healey. “When we entered office, we committed to pulling out all the stops to bring in more federal funding to Massachusetts projects. These grants will allow us to do so and will give our communities the critical support they need.”
“As a former Mayor, I understand the capacity constraints that municipal officials contend with every day,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Every technical assistance dollar we deliver is crucial to moving forward important projects in our communities; I’m thrilled to see these resources being delivered and look forward to seeing their impact in our communities.”
Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure Quentin Palfrey framed it as a direct response to what cities and towns have been demanding.
“Our team at the Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office created these programs to respond directly to the technical assistance needs we’ve heard from communities across the Commonwealth,” Palfrey said. “Today’s awards will help us unlock federal dollars and advance key infrastructure projects across our state. I want to thank our partners in the legislature for providing these new resources to help our communities thrive.”
MUNICIPAL WINNERS: CLEAN ENERGY, HOUSING, WATERFRONT BETS
Under the Municipal and Tribal Technical Assistance program, Agawam lands $50,000 for clean energy investments at its public schools. Barnstable picks up $75,000 tied to fish passage improvements at Upper Marston Mills Pond. Brockton secures $125,000 as it pursues federal credit assistance to acquire the Aquaria Desalination Plant. Gardner gets $150,000 for a downtown economic impact study.
Lawrence receives $70,000 connected to its FY’23 USDOT Safe Streets for All grant. Lynn takes the largest municipal slice at $200,000 for its South Harbor Implementation Plan. Nantucket gets $7,500 for electric vehicle and charging station investments. Newburyport receives $4,000 for clean energy work at the John F. Cutter Jr. Fire Station.
North Shore Community Development Corporation is awarded $195,000 for the El Centro mixed-use redevelopment project in Salem, including 48 age-restricted affordable housing units, commercial space and a community health center. Stoneham secures $47,250 for federal clean energy tax credits linked to a geothermal project at Stoneham High School. Westhampton receives $16,500 to pursue federal clean energy tax credits for solar projects at Town Hall and the Public Safety Complex.
“The Town of Agawam is grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office for their support through the MTTA grant program,” said Agawam Mayor Christopher Johnson. “This funding will allow us to retain specialized tax counsel to help navigate the federal Direct Pay provisions and ensure we maximize available incentives as we advance energy projects at our schools. This partnership strengthens our ability to deliver sustainable infrastructure improvements while responsibly leveraging federal resources for the benefit of our community.”
“Many cities and towns, like Gardner, have ambitious projects they’re eager to launch, but often lack the bandwidth or expertise to handle the planning and preparation required to qualify for funding,” said Gardner Mayor Mike Nicholson. “This grant for technical assistance to draft a Transit-Oriented Development and Economic Impact Study of Union Square in Gardner is a critical step that will unlock future funding opportunities, turning ideas into reality in the heart of our city. Technical assistance grants like this make the complex funding application process more accessible, helping local communities take the first step toward meaningful progress. Thank you to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for their continued partnership and support in building a stronger Commonwealth through stronger communities.”
“Our waterfront is one of Lynn’s greatest assets, and this technical assistance funding is the spark we need to further ignite its development,” said Lynn Mayor Jared C. Nicholson. “This program allows us to advance our residents’ goals in the City’s South Harbor Implementation Plan (SHIP) and other planning efforts through a strategic approach to urban renewal that will benefit our residents for generations to come.”
“The Town of Stoneham is grateful for the strong working relationship it shares with our state and federal colleagues,” said Stoneham Town Administrator Dennis Sheehan. “The $47,250 awarded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has supported the Town with the technical assistance needed to secure $5,965,688 in federal funding as part of its pursuit of a net-zero high school facility. Effective intergovernmental collaboration is critical at this juncture as we work to address challenges across our community, and we are especially appreciative of the Healey-Driscoll Administration and our local delegation’s support on this and other important efforts in our community.”
REGIONAL AGENCIES CASH IN
The Technical Assistance for Regional Planning Agencies program spreads money across all 13 regional planning agencies.
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council pulls in the largest award at $431,578.07. The Pioneer Valley Planning Council receives $183,284.70. The Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission gets $177,056.93. The Southeast Regional Planning & Economic Development District secures $165,671.59. Berkshire Regional Planning Commission takes $142,816.21. Montachusett Regional Planning Commission receives $138,310.31. Merrimack Valley Planning Commission lands $136,697.18. Old Colony Planning Council gets $135,815.52. Franklin Regional Council of Governments receives $133,005.67. Cape Cod Commission secures $128,647.18. Northern Middlesex Council of Governments gets $127,116.64. Martha’s Vineyard Commission receives $66,666.67. Nantucket Planning & Economic Development Commission collects $33,333.33.
“The Technical Assistance for Regional Planning Agencies program will help advance key infrastructure projects for communities, while enhancing our competitiveness for federal dollars,” said Linda Dunleavy and Jeff Walker, Co-Presidents of the Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies. “We’re grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the legislature for making these resources available.”
THE STRATEGY: LEVERAGE FEDERAL FIREPOWER
The programs were enabled by Chapter 214 of the Acts of 2024, legislation filed by Healey as part of a broader push to boost Massachusetts’ competitiveness for federal funding and arm local governments with more tools to pursue Washington dollars.
The pitch from Beacon Hill is clear: small technical assistance grants now, bigger federal paydays later.
Lawmakers are lining up behind the approach.
“Investing in local infrastructure projects is one of the most vital and direct ways that state government can deliver meaningful results for the people we serve,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I want to thank Governor Healey for allocating these grants, and my colleagues in the Legislature for working to make the initial investments.”
“The Municipal and Tribal Technical Assistance Program ensures that cities, towns, and Tribal governments have the expertise and support needed to successfully pursue and manage federal infrastructure funding,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “By strengthening local capacity, these grants will help communities deliver critical projects that support housing, climate resilience, and economic development. I’m grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for advancing this work and look forward to seeing these investments make a meaningful impact across the Commonwealth.”