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One Stop for Growth Development Continuum

All grant programs within the Community One Stop for Growth will fall into the Continuum.
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Overview of the Development Continuum

To help guide applicants, the One Stop uses a Development Continuum that describes how a typical economic development project moves from concept to reality within diverse communities.​

The One Stop requires applicants to think about their economic development priorities in the context of the Development Continuum, both to guide applicants towards best practices and strategies and to help applicants identify the types of projects that will support their economic development priorities. Applicants should consider this spectrum of activities as they prepare to submit applications to the One Stop, thinking fully about the steps necessary for progress in the development of a project. ​

This continuum separates economic development activities into two broad categories. The first, “Preparing for Growth,” includes the initial steps that typically need to occur before specific development projects can move forward, as well as community activation focused economic development activities.  The second, “Catalyzing Specific Projects,” covers various forms of project-specific activities, particularly for projects that have private development identified.

Development Continuum Graphic

Organization Eligibility

Public Organizations: All types of public entities are welcome and encouraged to submit a One Stop application. Municipalities and other public entities such as local housing or redevelopment authorities will have access to all grants administered through the One Stop process. However, non-municipal applicants are encouraged to open a discussion with their municipal leadership to ensure coordination and local support. ​

Non-Profit Organizations: Non-profit entities are eligible to apply through the Site Preparation category, for consideration by the Site Readiness Program, as well as the Building Development Continuum category, for consideration by the Underutilized Properties Program and the TDI Equity Investment Program.​

For-Profit Organizations: For-profit entities are only eligible to apply to the Building category, for consideration by the Underutilized Properties Program and the TDI Equity Investment Program. For-Profit entities must demonstrate a public benefit or purpose for the grant.

Planning & Zoning

Applications for projects in the Planning & Zoning category represent an early-stage project that requires a guiding plan, study, or assessment of project needs, prior to any construction or site preparation. These are planning grants and projects that produce a planning document or zoning revision.

Eligible Applicants: Public Entities​

Programs in this Category:​

Type/Focus of Projects Supported:​

Community Plan        

  • Comprehensive Plan
  • Regional Plan
  • Other Community Plan

Zoning Revision

  • Zoning Revision to Comply with Section 3A of MGL c.40A
  • Zoning Revision related to Accessory Dwelling Unit to comply with revisions to MGL c40A section 3
  • Zoning Revision to adopt pro-housing revisions that qualify for simple majority voting threshold
  • Comprehensive Zoning Review & Revision
  • Other Zoning Revision

Planning for Housing

  • Housing Production Plan
  • Housing Plan Alignment with State Housing Plan/Regional Goals

Planning for Economic Growth         

  • Downtown/Village Center Improvement Plan
  • District Management Implementation Plan
  • Commercial District Redevelopment Technical Assistance
  • Local Maritime Economic Development Planning Grants

Example Projects:​

  • Create a housing production plan to better understand housing needs of the community and identify strategies to reduce gaps in existing housing relative to identified needs.
  • Study the area with a ½ mile of a commuter rail station and create strategies to intensify development in that area.
  • Prepare a corridor study of a commercial area that runs through multiple towns and seeks land use alternatives to promote multi-modal access, introduce mixed-use and achieve more compact commercial development.
  • Review current zoning to identify and remove language that excludes certain housing types.
  • Create a district redevelopment plan for a commercial area that includes underutilized and public surplus properties.

Downtown Activation

Applications in the Downtown Activation category support near-term investments that reduce vacancies and increase visible economic activity in downtowns and commercial districts. Grants fund targeted public improvements and incentives that activate vacant spaces, enhance walkability, attract private investment, support small businesses, and advance equitable economic growth across communities of all sizes.

Eligible Applicants: Public Entities​

​Programs in this Category:​

Type/Focus of Projects Supported:

Downtown Improvements to Support Growth

  • Streetscape Improvements
  • Wayfinding/Signage Improvements
  • Public Facilities and Gathering Spaces

Incentivize Business in Vacant Downtown Storefronts

  • Access Tax Credits for Business to Occupy Vacant Storefronts

Example Projects:

  • Request by a municipality for access to tax credits to be used as an incentive to attract a business to a prominent downtown storefront that has been vacant for several years.
  • A community installs branded gateway features and a coordinated wayfinding system to improve navigation, reinforce downtown identity, and support local businesses.

Site Preparation

This category includes funding for an applicant working to progress a key site toward development; a final developer or end use is not necessarily identified at this phase.

Eligible Applicants: Public Entities, Non-Profit Entities​

Programs in this Category:

Type/Focus of Projects Supported:

Municipal Surplus Property Disposition

  • Municipal Surplus Property Disposition Study

Site Design & Analysis

  • Site Design and Analysis for Housing Development
    • Site Due Diligence
    • Site Plan Design
    • Market Study
    • Civil Engineering
    • Site Acquisition, related tasks
    • Pre-Permitting/Permitting
  • Site Design and Analysis for Mixed-Use, Commercial, or Industrial Development
    • Site Due Diligence
    • Site Plan Design
    • Market Study
    • Civil Engineering
    • Site Acquisition, related tasks
    • Pre-Permitting/Permitting

Brownfield Site Clean Up

  • Brownfields Site Assessment
  • Brownfields Remediation

Site Improvements to Unlock Development

  • Construction to Prepare a Site for Housing Development
    • Demolition
    • Construction of site related upgrades
  • Construction to Prepare a Site for Mixed-Use, Commercial, and Industrial Development
    • Demolition
    • Construction of site related upgrades

Example Projects:

  • The demolition of a structurally unsafe building to ready the site for new housing development.
  • The remediation of a brownfield site to prepare it for the development of a new industrial complex for businesses
  • Conduct a feasibility analysis to determine how a vacant historic city owned property may be reused.

Building

Funding is available for predevelopment activities and capital improvements that are essential to the occupancy of a blighted and/or underutilized property, with additional opportunities to activate underperforming commercial space within a Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) District. Funding in this category is limited to projects with a strong public purpose and benefit. Projects in this category must have the building secured with building and/or site control, an identified end use, and a clear public purpose. Additional funding is available for eligible Housing Choice designated municipalities to projects supporting the production, rehabilitation, or preservation of housing units within the community.​

Eligible Applicants: Public Entities, Non-Profit Entities, For-Profit Entities​

Programs in this Category:​

Type/Focus of Projects Supported:

Underutilized Property Rehabilitation

  • Underutilized Property Pre-Construction
    • Building Condition Study
    • Development Feasibility Study
    • Code Compliance Study
    • Architectural or Engineering Plans
  • Underutilized Property Construction
    • Code Compliance
    • Building Accessibility Improvements
    • Building Stabilization and/or Shell Repair
    • Interior Demolition or Remediation

Revitalize Commercial Space in a TDI District (Only available for projects within an established TDI District)

  • Activation of Underutilized Commercial Space

Example Projects:

  • A request to support architectural and engineering work to rehabilitate a vacant mill building into a mixed-use development.
  • A request to make capital improvements, including interior walls, electrical updates, HVAC improvements, and window and door repairs, to allow a vacant downtown structure to become a productive commercial property.
  • A request to convert a storefront from a production-only space to an active storefront with a café and retail sales.

Infrastructure

The Infrastructure category supports improvements to land and infrastructure that leverages and supports private investment in the community. These are predevelopment and implementation grants for projects that improve infrastructure such as roadways, streets, bridges, culverts, water/sewer, other utilities, etc. Coastal communities can also request funding to support infrastructure projects that enable economic activity in all sectors of the blue economy. Investments will be targeted to projects that require the infrastructure improvements or expansion to support and/or facilitate new growth or address road safety issues.

Eligible Applicants: Public Entities​

Programs in this Category:​

Type/Focus of Projects Supported:

Infrastructure to Support Housing Growth (Residential Only)

  • Pre-Construction - Design / Engineering Documents Only
  • Construction
    • Roadway / Streetscape Improvements
    • Bridge / Culvert Repair or Replacement
    • Water / Sewer Infrastructure
    • Public Utility Project (Gas, Electric, etc.)

Public Infrastructure to Support Mixed-Use, Commercial, or Industrial Development

  • Pre-Construction - Design / Engineering Documents Only
  • Construction
    • Roadway / Streetscape Improvements
    • Bridge / Culvert Repair or Replacement
    • Water / Sewer Infrastructure
    • Public Utility Project (Gas, Electric, etc.)

Costal Infrastructure to Support the Blue Economy

  • Pre-Construction - Design / Engineering Documents Only
  • Construction

Small Town Road Improvements to Enhance Public Safety (aka STRAP)

  • Construction of Road Improvements to Enhance Public Safety

Example Projects:

  • A request for water and sewer upgrades to a previously used site that will now be made into market rate housing.
  • A request to update a culvert under a roadway leading to new private development for mixed use that creates new industrial space and rental housing.
  • A request to repair at-risk municipal bridges that affect evacuation routes and/or access to commercial centers or transportation nodes.

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