Cape Cod Communities receive $12 million in state grants

Cape Cod communities are receiving significant funding to support housing, wastewater, and economic development projects through the Commonwealth's OneStop for Growth grant program.

In late October, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced that $164 million is being awarded statewide, with more than $12 million on its way to Cape Cod through 23 grants awarded for projects in eleven Cape Cod towns. These grants represent significant investments in wastewater infrastructure, housing, and economic development across the region.

Community One Stop for Growth is an application portal overseen by the Executive Office of Economic Development that provides a streamlined process for municipalities and organizations to apply for 13 state grant programs that fund economic development projects related to planning and zoning, site preparation, building construction, infrastructure, and housing development.

"One Stop is a vital economic development tool to spark growth, spur development and strengthen local economies across the state," said Governor Healey. "These funds will help make possible community-led projects that build vibrant downtowns and unlock economic potential in every region of Massachusetts, while creating new jobs, housing, and opportunity."

"Building strong communities is essential to advancing economic development across Massachusetts," said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. "The One Stop for Growth allows us to partner with cities and towns statewide to support their economic development goals while empowering them to pursue their vision for growth. We're excited to announce this year's awards to 161 Massachusetts communities and can't wait to see the economic progress they help make possible in the years to come."

The twenty-three grants awarded to Cape Cod communities include $3.5 million to the Town of Yarmouth to support Phase One of the Town's wastewater collection system for the commercial Route 28 and Shore Drive area, $3 million to the Town of Wellfleet to support construction and oversight of a decentralized wastewater treatment facility that will help fund affordable housing, $1.8 million to the Town of Barnstable to support conversion of Main Street Hyannis from one-way to two-way travel, an improved pedestrian and bicycle network, and rehabilitation of a parking lot; and $500,000 to the Town of Orleans to redevelop a former motel into affordable housing. A full list of grants awarded on Cape Cod is below.

"We are pleased to see such a significant investment in projects that advance regional priorities," said Cape Cod Commission Executive Director Kristy Senatori. "This funding will support critical projects that will greatly impact our communities and contribute to the economic vitality of Cape Cod."

To learn more about the One Stop, visit http://www.mass.gov/guides/community-one-stop-for-growth.

Grant awards to Cape Cod communities:

Town of Barnstable | $1,379,840 | HousingWorks Infrastructure Program
Barnstable will redevelop a currently vacant 1.5 acre site in downtown Hyannis with approximately 50 units of mixed income housing that will provide opportunities for low-moderate income ownership. Grant funds would be used for the project’s wastewater system, consisting of pump station and sewer connection, enabling project feasibility and accelerating delivery of much-needed housing in the heart of the community.

Town of Barnstable | $25,000 | Massachusetts Downtown Initiative
Technical assistance to add new and enhanced signage design standards into updated and consolidated Design and Historic District Guidelines for Downtown Hyannis.

Town of Barnstable | $1,800,000 | MassWorks Infrastructure Program
This project supports the conversion of the roadway network in Downtown Hyannis from one-way to two-way travel, improved pedestrian and bicycle network, and the rehabilitation of a long-neglected downtown parking lot that serves as a primary gateway into downtown. This transformative project is designed for efficient implementation, working almost exclusively within the existing pavement and with the minor modification of key gateway intersections.

Town of Barnstable | $50,000 | Real Estate Services Technical Assistance
The Town of Barnstable will use this grant to study the feasibility of establishing a District Improvement Financing (DIF) program to benefit downtown Hyannis and develop a DIF development district plan.

Dunrovin LLC (Barnstable) | $250,000 | Underutilized Properties Program
Dunrovin LLC will use this grant to redevelop an existing circa 1920 building in Barnstable into an eight-unit housing facility consisting of four duplexes. Funds will be used for site and infrastructure improvements.

William James Holdings LLC (Barnstable) | $175,000 | Underutilized Properties Program
William James Holdings LLC will use this grant to redevelop a three-story, 6,708-square-foot mixed-use building in Barnstable into two first-floor commercial units and 12 units of market-rate housing. Funds will be used for fire and life safety code compliance, building shell repair, building stabilization, HVAC improvements or renovations, and interior rehabilitation or remediation.

The Cordial Eye Gallery and Artist Space (Barnstable) | $80,000 | Urban Agenda Grant Program
Creative Futures Cape Cod (CFCC) is a paid fellowship for adults (18-40) in Hyannis and its surrounding communities, that have faced systemic barriers to careers in the creative economy. The program includes 1-1 mentorship, cohort-based learning, and free studio space for each Artist Fellow.

Town of Brewster | $65,000 | Community Planning Grant Program
Brewster will analyze the Town’s existing zoning bylaw, undertake public engagement, and prepare a report that identifies impediments to and opportunities for multi-unit and mixed-use residential housing, including recommendations for zoning amendments to achieve this housing purpose.

Town of Chatham | $57,000 | Community Planning Grant Program
Chatham will update its Housing Production Plan to expand affordable housing policies and practices and provide a thorough understanding of current housing conditions and the needs of current and projected future populations.

Town of Chatham | $175,000 | Site Readiness Program
The Town of Chatham will use this grant to support the development of an estimated 50 units of affordable housing on a 3.5-acre parcel of town-owned land. Funds will be used for the design and engineering of a site access road, intersection and infrastructure improvements, and construction cost estimating.

Sand Dollar Properties (Dennis) | $450,000 | Underutilized Properties Program
Sand Dollar Properties will use this grant for the adaptive reuse of a vacant 9,980-square-foot building in Dennis into 24 units of housing; 18 units will be market rate and six units will be affordable. Funds will be used for construction of HVAC, electrical, and plumbing.

Town of Falmouth | $25,000 | Massachusetts Downtown Initiative
Technical assistance to create a parking management plan for the town center that considers existing parking conditions and future parking needs.

Royal 545 Main Street (Falmouth) | $379,975 | Underutilized Properties Program
Royal 545 Main Street, LLC will use this grant to redevelop a vacant 52,000-square-foot former nursing home in Falmouth into 71 units of affordable and workforce housing. Funds will be used to replace all existing mechanical systems with energy-efficient, all-electric systems with rooftop solar panels.

Jacks’ Downeast LLC (Harwich) | $200,000 | Underutilized Properties Program
Jacks Downeast, LLC will use this grant to refurbish and convert a historic, dilapidated 2,500-square-foot schoolhouse in West Harwich into seven units of market-rate housing. Funds will be used to bridge a financial gap to allow this project to move forward.

Town of Orleans | $500,000 | Rural and Small Town Development Fund
Site Preparation of 66 & 76 Route 6A - The intends to redevelop a former motel site into affordable and attainable housing. The project site was acquired by the Town after the previous owners indicated their intent to cease their motel operation. Grant funds will be used toward the cost of demolition work needed to prepare for future development.

Town of Provincetown | $20,000 | Housing Choice Grant Program
Provincetown will design approximately 450 ft of sidewalk and a bike lane with attendant street lighting to connect a proposed workforce housing project to the adjacent neighborhood, downtown employment center, school, grocery store, shops and restaurants.

Town of Provincetown | $100,000 | Rural and Small Town Development Fund
Shank Painter Road Zoning Study – This grant supports the creation of a development plan in line with the community’s vision for the Shank Painter neighborhood: a vibrant mixed-use gateway neighborhood that promotes commercial development at the street level with opportunities to add housing above the storefronts. The project coincides with a 2024-2025 state and federally funded Transportation Improvement Project (TIP) that will reshape Shank Painter Road to become a Complete Street.

Town of Provincetown | $180,000 | Site Readiness Program
The Town of Provincetown will use this grant to support site preparation for a proposed affordable housing development. Funds will be used to excavate and remove an in-ground septic system and other subsurface infiltration components from a town-owned parcel.

Entrepreneurship for All Cape Cod (Provincetown) | $100,000 | Urban Agenda Grant Program
EforAll Cape Cod’s program, The Provincetown: Launching Creative Economy Business, is an incubator business accelerator. The partnership aims to launch 25 new businesses, provide them access to office space and internet, engage local creatives to learn business skills and monetize their art through workshops, and participate in an artists' business plan competition and a 'Makers' art sale.

Town of Truro | $25,000 | Community Planning Grant Program
Truro will complete a community-based planning process undertaken by the Walsh Property Community Planning Committee (Walsh Committee), to obtain Town Meeting approval of a master plan for development of this Town-owned property.

Town of Wellfleet | $3,000,000 | MassWorks Infrastructure Program
This project includes the construction & construction oversight of a state-of-the-art decentralized wastewater treatment facility that will provide the required infrastructure to support a critical affordable housing project and is designed to result in a net water quality benefit by upgrading adjacent septic systems. The WWTF serves an affordable housing project and three adjacent existing municipal facilities, including the town's elementary school, police station, and fire station.

Town of Yarmouth | $100,000 | Community Planning Grant Program
Yarmouth will update its Local Comprehensive Plan through efforts that include zoning analysis, financial feasibility modeling, and public outreach/education.

Town of Yarmouth | $3,500,000 | MassWorks Infrastructure Program
This award supports Phase One of the town's wastewater collection system for the commercial Route 28 and Shore Drive area. This is part of an 8-phase town-wide Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan. The grant would fund 25% of contracts 2 and 3 in Phase 1; a $38M construction project providing a wastewater collection system for 441 parcels along Route 28 between Parkers River and Bass River, and Shore Drive. The project will facilitate over $100,000,000 in new growth.