Expanding Technical Assistance for Local Communities
FFIO worked with cities and towns across Massachusetts to develop two new programs that work to increase local capacity and unlock more federal funding: the Municipal and Tribal Technical Assistance (MTTA) Program and the Technical Assistance for Regional Planning Agencies (TARPA) Program.
Since launching in September 2025, MTTA has administered nearly $3 million in grants to over 57 projects in communities across the state. Meanwhile, TARPA provides $2 million over two years to every regional planning agency (RPA) in Massachusetts. Together, these two programs enable communities to better access the technical support they need to pursue and implement federal dollars.
- Supports communities seeking or receiving federal funding
- Allows RPAs to provide additional technical assistance
- Expands access to federal opportunities across Massachusetts
- Strengthens local capacity in cities, towns, and Tribal communities
Making Federal Opportunities More Accessible to Communities
Disaster Prevention and Resilience Throughout the State
MTTA awards have funded hazard mitigation planning for 40 communities across Massachusetts. These plans help communities identify and reduce risks from natural disasters while also preparing them to qualify for a variety of FEMA funding opportunities. The program has been particularly valuable for smaller and rural communities—including Conway, Shelburne, and Whately—that face constrained budgets and need resources for long-term resilience planning.
Building Affordable Housing for Low-Income Seniors in Salem
The MTTA program provided a $195,000 grant to the El Centro project in downtown Salem, a mixed-use redevelopment that will create 48 affordable housing units, commercial space, and a community health center. The funds enabled the project’s team to complete the requirements needed to unlock federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
"Support from the Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office has been instrumental in advancing El Centro, a mixed-use development that will bring 48 deeply affordable homes for seniors and a new North Shore Community health facility to Salem. FFIO funding enabled North Shore CDC to engage consultants with extensive HUD Section 202 expertise, whose work helped us secure critical firm and subsidy commitments from HUD. This subsidy is essential to making these homes truly affordable for seniors with limited incomes across the North Shore and beyond. We are deeply grateful to FFIO for helping move El Centro toward closing and bringing much-needed affordable housing and health services to Salem and the Point neighborhood. This support demonstrates the power of collaboration and partnership at every level to create lasting impact for our communities."
Felicia Pierce, Chief Executive Officer, North Shore CDC
Protecting Drinking Water Across Massachusetts
Through a partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust, FFIO dedicated up to $50,000 for up to 15 communities and public water suppliers to identify aging drinking water service lines and prepare for future lead service line replacement.
Advancing Local Infrastructure Financing: Build for Mass
Build for Mass
In 2026, FFIO, MassDevelopment, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), and the Governor’s Office of Climate Innovation and Resilience partnered to launch Build for Mass, the Commonwealth's first general municipal infrastructure lending program. Seeded with $75 million from the Federal Match and Debt Reduction Fund and the Department of Energy Resources, Build for Mass provides flexible, low-interest financing that enables cities and towns to move priority infrastructure projects from planning to construction while maximizing opportunities for federal investment.
Designed in response to feedback from municipal leaders, the program fills critical funding gaps that can delay local projects. Build for Mass features two revolving loan funds:
- General Loan Program provides communities with affordable financing for infrastructure, economic development, climate resilience, and other critical municipal infrastructure projects
- Green Loan Program provides bridge financing to ground-source heat pump and battery storage projects that are eligible for federal clean electricity tax credits.
Housed at MassDevelopment, Build for Mass is a sustainable financing tool works to lower energy costs, increase resilience, and deliver municipal investment for years to come.
- Provides flexible, low-interest financing for critical infrastructure projects
- Increases access to federal tax credits that can cover up to 50% of project costs
- Through loan repayments, creates a revolving source of capital for Massachusetts communities
Making Grant Applications Easier: GrantWell
FFIO also launched GrantWell, a free AI grant assistant developed in collaboration with the Burnes Center at Northeastern University. GrantWell is designed to enable local communities to identify grant opportunities and strengthen applications, especially in places that do not have dedicated grant-writing staff.
To date, 82 unique communities in Massachusetts have used GrantWell.
By reducing capacity barriers, GrantWell enables more communities to compete for federal funding and bring resources back to Massachusetts.
- Helps communities identify grant opportunities
- Supports stronger federal applications
- Expands access for municipalities with limited staff capacity