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.
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.
Community Activation and Placemaking
Community Activation & Placemaking grants support projects and programs aimed at identifying and enhancing community assets.
Eligible Applicants: Public Entities
Programs in this Category:
Type/Focus of Projects Supported:
Technical Assistance for Downtowns
- Downtown Design Consultant Services
- Downtown Mobility/Parking
- Consultant Services
- Downtown Wayfinding/Branding
- Consultant Services
- Economics of Downtown Consultant Services
- Pedestrian Orientation/Placemaking Consultant Services
- Small Business Support/E-commerce Consultant Services
- Forming a Downtown Management District: Feasibility
- Forming a Downtown Management District: Implementation
Incentivize Business in Vacant Downtown Storefronts
- Access Tax Credits for Business to Occupy Vacant Storefronts
Example Projects:
- Request by a municipality to explore the feasibility of developing a Business Improvement District.
- A request from a community coalition to fund English language training and other prerequisite trainings, including coverage for childcare and transportation, to prepare low-income residents for new jobs available in the region due to the expansion of a major employer.
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 must produce a planning document or zoning revision.
Eligible Applicants: Public Entities
Programs in this Category:
- Community Planning Grant Program
- Real Estate Services Technical Assistance
- Rural Development Fund
- Housing Choice Grant Program
Type/Focus of Projects Supported:
Community Plan
- Master Plan
- Neighborhood/Downtown/Corridor Plan
- Urban Renewal Plan
- Housing Production Plan
- Housing Plan Alignment with State Housing Plan/Regional Goals
- Regional Plan
- Other 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 Feasibility Plan
- Housing Site Master Plan
- Housing Infrastructure Plan
- Housing Site Design Plan
- Other Housing Plan
District Redevelopment Technical Assistance
- Planning for Growth in a Commercial/Industrial or Mixed-Use District
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.
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:
- Real Estate Services Technical Assistance
- Brownfield Redevelopment Fund
- Site Readiness Program
- Rural Development Fund
- Housing Choice Grant Program
Type/Focus of Projects Supported:
Brownfield Site Clean Up
- Brownfields Site Assessment
- Brownfields Remediation
Site Improvements to Unlock Development
- Site Readiness Pre-Construction
- Site Due Diligence
- Site Plan Design
- Market Study
- Civil Engineering
- Pre-Permitting/Permitting
- Site Readiness Construction
- Demolition
- Site Acquisition, related tasks
- Construction of site related upgrades
Municipal Surplus Property Disposition
- Municipal Surplus Property Disposition Study
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
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:
- Underutilized Properties Program
- TDI Equity Investment Program
- Rural Development Fund
- Housing Choice Grant Program
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
- Activation of Underutilized Commercial Space
Housing Production (Only Available to Public Organizations in Housing Choice Communities)
- Support Housing Production
- Support Housing Rehabilitation
- Support Housing Preservation
Example Projects:
- A request to fit-out an incubator within a property that was previously vacant.
- A request to install an elevator in a city-owned property to open up second floor space for space for a new housing development.
- A request to convert a storefront from a production-only space to a more active storefront with a café and retail sales.
Infrastructure
The Infrastructure category supports improvements to public 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. 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:
- MassWorks Infrastructure Program
- HousingWorks Infrastructure Program
- Rural Development Fund
- Housing Choice Grant Program
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 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.)
Public Infrastructure to Support Commercial/Industrial Growth
- Pre-Construction - Design / Engineering Documents Only
- Construction
- Roadway / Streetscape Improvements
- Bridge / Culvert Repair or Replacement
- Water / Sewer Infrastructure
- Public Utility Project (Gas, Electric, etc.)
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.