Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Over $2 Million in Funding to Support Coastal Communities

BOSTON — Today, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced over $2 million in Supportive Coastal Infrastructure and Local Maritime Economic Development Planning grants through the Seaport Economic Council (SEC) to six coastal communities that will support economic growth and unlock job creation through infrastructure projects.  

These grants are an addition to the SEC’s previous round of $8 million blue economy grants in 2023. The total awards to date will be over $93 million invested through 206 grants in 56 Coastal Communities, which is administered by the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED). Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll announced the awards during today’s meeting of the Seaport Economic Council in Boston.  

“Our coastal communities are crucial to our maritime and ocean-based economy,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These grants will play a crucial role in our efforts to ensure that communities have the resources necessary to reach their full potential, strengthen their maritime economy, promote economic development, and support resilient infrastructure for years ahead.” 

"Our administration is committed to building on the achievements of our coastal communities,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We’re pleased to support them through the Supportive Coastal Infrastructure and Local Maritime Economic Development Planning grants. These funds will enable our communities to further invest in the fundamentals that sustain and grow their economies.”  

“This funding from the Seaport Economic Council will act as a crucial catalyst for economic growth in our important coastal and maritime communities,” said Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao. “These grants empower our communities to further innovate and leverage their unique advantages to fulfill job and economic growth, simultaneously steering Massachusetts towards greater affordability, equity, and competitiveness.”  

"As a valuable resource for our coastal communities, the Seaport Economic Council plays a crucial role in providing essential funding to drive innovative ideas and infrastructure projects, fostering job growth,” said Undersecretary of Economic Foundations Ashley Stolba, Vice Chair of the Seaport Economic Council. “We are proud to invest in our communities through these grants, contributing to statewide growth across all sectors.”  

The Seaport Economic Council serves all 78 of Massachusetts’ diverse coastal communities and helps each use their unique economic assets to grow the economy and unlock job creation. The Council also assists communities to prepare for the impacts of climate change and awards competitive grants that offer flexible funding for locally grown ideas and projects. 

The Seaport Economic Council has completed its solicitation for projects to be funded under Executive Order 587 and is funded through the Massachusetts Five-Year Capital Plan.  
 

Seaport Economic Council Grants:   

Town of Amesbury, Washington Landing Maritime Support Facility - $840,000 
The project includes the shoreline restoration and revitalization of the Washington Landing Maritime Support Facility along the Merrimack River in Amesbury. The four main capital components of the project include: replacement of the boat ramp; addition of approx. 900 SF of landside boardwalk area to support the harbormaster office and access to the boat ramp; installation of a gangway and 100’ finger dock for the boat ramp facility and transient vessels; and improvements to the parking area and restoration of the living shoreline adjacent the boat ramp. 

Town of Fall River & FRRA, Development Plan for North Point at City Pier and Three Mooring Fields - $396,000 
The Fall River Redevelopment Authority (FRRA) will procure consultant services to: 1) Plan improvements for an overgrown spit of land, a part of the City Pier/600 Davol St. property, to replace invasive species with native vegetation and repair a deteriorated and eroding embankment to create a new fishing and recreation area while restoring the shoreline ecology; and 2) the addition of three new mooring fields along Fall River’s waterfront.   

Town of Falmouth, Simpson's Landing New Bulkhead (Phase II, Construction) - $344,000 
This project will replace the failing town bulkhead at Simpson's Landing located at the corner of Scranton Ave and Clinton Ave. This will be a new 115 LF bulkhead abutting the federal channel. The commercial loading and unloading bulkhead is located at the mouth of Falmouth Harbor next to the Clam Shack property. This bulkhead is used for commercial purposes including commercial fish landings, commuter boats, and permitted fueling by tanker trucks. It is the only commercial dock the town operates in Falmouth Harbor. 

Town of Milton, Milton Landing Seawall & Access Improvements - $140,800 
This project seeks to simultaneously increase the useability and accessibility of the waterfront by performing the necessary engineering work to significantly upgrade the dock system to add ADA accessibility and use by a wider variety of users, while also restoring the seawall to ensure that these improvements are resilient to the effects of the climate crisis. 

Town of Provincetown, MacMillan Pier Security, Public Safety, and Commercial Fishing Improvements - $800,000 
The PPPC as an entity was created by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2000 to operate and maintain MacMillan Pier. The 1,450 LF structure is a vital piece of public infrastructure, providing capacity for passenger ferry service, charter vessels, and commercial fishing. A waterfront inspection identified immediate concerns related to public safety and commercial catch offloading. In order to address these concerns, the PPPC proposes to replace the existing hoists, provide emergency ladders, install security cameras, and provide upgraded utility service and structural upgrades to the hoist locations. 

Town of Scituate, Schematic Design of a New Harbormaster Facility - $128,000 
The new facility will contribute to the harbor’s resilient infrastructure as well as address accessibility. The new facility will be designed to provide increased accessibility and support to the commercial and recreational activities of Scituate Harbor, which has both a vibrant and active fishing and maritime industries, as well as accommodations for recreational boaters. The new facility will feature accommodations for the public, a maintenance facility, harbormaster training center, and accommodations for search and rescue personnel during storm events. 

About the Seaport Economic Council 
The Seaport Economic Council advances the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s support for communities and residents across the state by leveraging unique economic assets to drive sustainable regional growth. 

The Seaport Economic Council was re-launched in August 2015, with a mission to deepen the maritime economy, promote economic development, and support resilient infrastructure in all 78 of Massachusetts’ coastal communities while preparing them to engage with the challenges posed by sea level rise and increasingly powerful coastal storms. The council’s capital grant program supports working waterfronts, local tourism, coastal resiliency, and maritime innovation, from the North Shore to Cape Cod and the South Coast.  

Since August 2015, the Seaport Economic Council has invested over $93 million in the Commonwealth’s coastal communities. 

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