Thursday, March 28, 2024

$2 MILLION FOR NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH

Baker-Polito Administration Announces $2 million MassWorks Infrastructure Award for North Attleborough

Grant will fund accessibility upgrades downtown and connect businesses, housing developments and public transportation

NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH –  Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy joined Representative Elizabeth Poirier, North Attleborough Town Manager Michael Gallagher and other local leaders at Town Hall to announce a $2 million MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant for North Attleborough. The award will be used to increase ADA accessibility in the downtown area, including access to local businesses, a nearby mixed-use development and a GATRA bus stop, and upgrade to energy efficient LED lighting throughout the area.
 
The project will include road, curbing, sidewalk, drainage and Complete Streets improvements, and the installation of energy efficient LED lighting and wayfinding signage, to allow better access and safety for all living, working and visiting the downtown area. It builds on a nearly complete 2014 MassWorks project that provided infrastructure to support a transit-oriented, mixed-use development that will include 193 housing units and a GATRA bus hub. The MassWorks project will also benefit Jewel Crossing, a fully-occupied 66 unit affordable housing development supported by the Department of Housing and Community Development.

“MassWorks is a valuable program that maximizes return on investment for capital funding, delivering vital infrastructure repairs that improve public safety while stimulating local and private development, job growth and housing production,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We will continue to collaborate closely with local leaders to identify opportunities and target public resources toward the growth and wellbeing of communities across the Commonwealth.”
 
“As former municipal leaders, Governor Baker and I know firsthand the value of flexible grant programs like MassWorks, which help communities make targeted enhancements and provide opportunities for economic development,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Today’s award will make North Attleborough’s downtown more accessible for all residents and better connect new and existing businesses and housing creating a more vibrant neighborhood.”
 
“This administration recognizes the importance of reliable, modern infrastructure to the success of communities of all sizes, and MassWorks grants provide a flexible option for communities to unlock new local development,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “We applaud North Attleborough’s efforts to create transit-oriented developments with housing near their downtown, and we are proud to continue to partner with the town to enhance accessibility and safety, and better connect residents to transportation options.”
 
The MassWorks project also complements the widening and lowering of a downtown bridge, which has received partial funding under the State’s Municipal Small Bridge Grant Program. The improvements will allow additional water flow and reduce flooding in the area as recommended in the Town’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness plan. North Attleborough is also continuing to work with downtown business groups and other stakeholders to gain consensus on future downtown improvements.

“The Town is grateful to the Baker-Polito Administration, Secretary Kennealy and the State Legislature for their continued advocacy and funding of the MassWorks Infrastructure Program and their support of the Town’s vision regarding the revitalization of North Attleborough’s historic Downtown,” said Town Manager Michael Gallagher.
 
“Congratulations to North Attleboro on the 2019 MassWorks Infrastructure Program Grant to continue to improve the downtown area, and to all who worked so hard on the proposal,” said Senator Becca Rausch. “A thriving, sustainable, and accessible downtown makes a community stronger for all. These improvements, including making a number of businesses ADA accessible, addressing pedestrian, vehicle and bicycle access, and energy efficient LED lighting, will play an important role in that.”
 
“I am very gratified that the hard work and effort that has been put forward by our Economic Development Director in partnership with many other department heads in North Attleborough is being recognized and funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  Congratulation by all those who have been involved,” said Representative Elizabeth Poirier.
 
Through the 2019 MassWorks round, the Baker-Polito Administration will award more than $72 million in MassWorks awards to a diverse mix of 36 projects in 35 communities across the Commonwealth, including nine Gateway Cities and eight communities that will receive MassWorks funding for the first time. The awards will unlock a total of $2.3 billion in private investment and more than 4,600 new full-time jobs, along with more than 3,100 new housing units, more than a third of which are affordable, building on the Administration’s efforts to tackle the ongoing housing shortage through complementary programs like historic funding for affordable housing and the proposed Housing Choice legislation. The transformative projects funded by the 2019 awards were selected from 92 applications, totaling $223 million in requests.
 
Since 2015, the Baker-Polito Administration has awarded more than $456 million in MassWorks grants to support 219 shovel-ready projects in 141 communities. MassWorks funding has leveraged over $9.2B in private investments and made possible the creation of more than 14,000 new housing units and tens of thousands of construction and permanent jobs.
 
Governor Baker signed economic development legislation in August 2018 that included substantial new funding for municipalities, including another $250 million for MassWorks awards. The legislation built on the Baker-Polito Administration’s work to partner with communities to catalyze economic development and create new opportunities for residents across the Commonwealth, including the 2016 Job Creation and Workforce Development act, which authorized $1 billion to support economic development efforts across the state, including a $500 million authorization for the MassWorks Infrastructure Program, enhanced tools and the introduction of new strategies for job-readiness efforts.
 
Learn more about MassWorks here.