- Office of Travel and Tourism
Media Contact
Abigail Phillips, Director of Communications
Boston — BOSTON — Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced $6.34 million in grants to 65 tourism and cultural development projects through the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s (MOTT) Destination Development Capital (DDC) Grant Program. The program supports projects that expand, construct, restore, or renovate tourism destinations and attractions across the state, strengthening regional economies and improving the visitor experience.
“These grants reflect our vision for a Massachusetts where every region, every town, and every community has the opportunity to shine,” said Governor Maura Healey. “By investing in the organizations that drive our tourism economy, we’re creating lasting opportunities for local businesses, residents, and visitors alike. These projects ensure that Massachusetts remains a desirable destination for people and businesses from around the world for generations to come.”
“Tourism fuels connection. When we invest in our destinations, our downtowns, trails, museums, and waterfronts, we’re investing in the small businesses, workers, and families who bring these places to life,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “These grants strengthen the fabric of our communities, helping more people share in the opportunities that a vibrant visitor economy creates.”
The FY26 Destination Development Capital grants are part of the Administration’s broader strategy to grow the state’s visitor economy through long-term capital investments. These projects expand the state’s tourism infrastructure, enhance accessibility and sustainability, and preserve the cultural, historic, and natural assets that make Massachusetts a world-class destination. Funded initiatives this year include upgrades to museums and performing arts venues, revitalization of historic sites and visitor centers, energy-efficiency improvements, and the creation of new public spaces and outdoor recreation amenities that support year-round tourism and local economic growth.
“These grants strengthen the communities that that help us tell the story of Massachusetts' rich history, beautiful present, and our position as a global leader into the future,” said Secretary of Economic Development Eric Paley. “By investing in the experiences that draw people here, we’re supporting local jobs, featuring innovation, and ensuring that Massachusetts continues to stand out as a place where creativity and commerce thrive together.”
Tourism is a critical pillar of Massachusetts’ economy. In 2024 , the Commonwealth welcomed more than 31 million domestic and international visitors, generating an estimated $27.6 billion in direct spending, supporting more than 130,000 jobs, and contributing $2.3 billion in state and local tax revenue.
Investments in visitor-facing infrastructure generate jobs in hospitality, construction, transportation, and the cultural sector; boost state and local tax revenue; and support small businesses across every region. By enabling enhanced destinations and elevated visitor experiences, the FY26 grants aim to help regions, from Boston to the Berkshires, realize a greater share of the visitor economy while preserving and enhancing the state’s unique assets.
“Tourism is built on experiences large and small that make a visit to Massachusetts unforgettable,” said Kate Fox, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism. “It might be a walk through a historic town square, a concert on the village green, or a conversation with a local shop owner. These capital grants help communities strengthen those moments, creating places where visitors feel connected and welcomed. By investing holistically in our tourism infrastructure, we’re ensuring Massachusetts remains a destination that feels both world-class and wonderfully human.”
A full list of grant recipients is available below:
| Location | Grantee | Grant Award Amount | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westfield | Amelia Park Children's Museum | $100,000 | Outdoor Learning Environment & Infrastructure Update Project |
| Amherst | Amherst Business Improvement District | $30,000 | Performance Shell on the Amherst Town Common |
| Stockbridge | Berkshire Botanical Garden | $90,000 | Glass House |
| Berkshire County | Berkshire Natural Resources Council | $180,000 | Berkshire Outdoors Visitor Experience Improvements |
| Boston | Boston Harbor Now | $160,000 | Boston Harborwalk Web Tool |
| Lenox and Stockbridge | Boston Symphony Orchestra | $100,000 | Solar Energy Installation at Tanglewood |
| Beverly | City of Beverly | $60,000 | Revolutionary Site Upgrades at Independence Park |
| Lynn | City of Lynn | $45,000 | Wayfinding Signage Fabrication and Installation |
| North Adams | City of North Adams | $50,000 | Heritage State Park Bandstand Recreation Development |
| Concord | Concord Museum | $5,000 | One If By Web: Digital Enhancements at the Concord Museum |
| Great Barrington | DuBois Freedom Center | $155,000 | DuBois Freedom Center Museum at the historic Clinton AME Zion Church |
| Topsfield | Essex Agricultural Society | $110,000 | Enhancing Education Building & its Surroundings |
| Essex | Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum | $38,000 | Historic Schoolhouse ADA Update |
| Greenfield | Franklin County Agricultural Society | $78,000 | ADA Walkway Preservation Project |
| Franklin | Franklin Performing Arts Company | $90,000 | THE BLACK BOX Roof and HVAC Unit Replacement |
| Cambridge | Global Arts Live | $155,000 | Lighting Equipment for New Performing Arts Center in Cambridge |
| Northampton | Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce | $38,000 | Visitor Center Renovations |
| Hancock and Pittsfield | Hancock Shaker Village | $190,000 | Hancock Shaker Village: Visitor Center |
| Heath | Heath Agricultural Society | $25,000 | Heath Fair Silo Reconstruction and Pulling Pit Bleachers/Disability Access |
| Sandwich | Heritage Museums & Gardens | $105,000 | Expanding Gardens Aglow (GA) to Meet Demand |
| Deerfield | Historic Deerfield | $58,000 | Investing in Visitor Experience: Signage and Wayfinding Enhancements |
| Haverhill | Historic New England | $190,000 | Historic New England Welcome Center in Downtown Haverhill |
| Hopkinton | Hopkinton Center for the Arts | $110,000 | Center School Design |
| Hull | Hull Lifesaving Museum | $190,000 | Boathouse Restoration Project |
| Boston | Huntington Theatre Company | $150,000 | Huntington East Wing Final Design Development and Engineering |
| Boston | Inspire Arts & Music | $125,000 | Riverside Theater Building Restoration Project |
| Boston | Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum | $190,000 | ISGM Phase III HVAC Replacement and Control Systems Upgrades |
| Barnstable | JFK Hyannis Museum Foundation | $2,500 | WiFi Network Expansion |
| Boston | John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library Foundation | $125,000 | Jacqueline Kennedy Theaters |
| Lee | Lee Chamber of Commerce | $7,000 | Lee Chamber of Commerce Website Revamp |
| North Adams | Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art Foundation | $190,000 | Elevator Repair and Modernization |
| Mattapoisett | Mattapoisett Museum | $22,500 | Universal Access Entrance Project |
| Boston | Meet Boston | $100,000 | Visitor Center and Mobile Visitor Center Improvements |
| Cambridge and Watertown | Mount Auburn Cemetery | $115,000 | Bigelow Chapel Lawn Electrical Infrastructure |
| New Bedford | New Bedford Whaling Museum | $160,000 | Bourne Building Roof Replacement |
| Boston | New England Aquarium | $160,000 | New England Aquarium Main Lobby Renovation |
| Boylston | New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill | $190,000 | Accessibility and Infrastructure Upgrades to New England Botanic Garden’s Court and Lawn Gardens |
| Williamstown | New England Mountain Bike Association - Purple Valley Chapter | $55,000 | Purple Valley Trails |
| Taunton | Old Colony History Museum | $32,000 | Parking, Garden, and a Place for Community: OCHM Access Project |
| Boston | Old North Illuminated | $40,000 | Accessibility Ramp Construction at Old North Church |
| Sturbridge | Old Sturbridge Village | $190,000 | Old Sturbridge Village Gallery and Visitor Center Renovation |
| Charlemont | Piti Theatre Company | $115,000 | Art & Ecology Center Expansion |
| 21 Cities and Towns | Revolutionary Valley | $25,000 | Tourism Information Kiosks |
| Gloucester | Rocky Neck Art Colony | $6,000 | Remediation of Storm Flooding at Rocky Neck Cultural Center |
| Boston | Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy | $70,000 | Greenway Signage |
| Plymouth | See Plymouth | $200,000 | Waterfront Visitor Center Expansion |
| Boston | Shirley-Eustis House Association | $25,000 | Roxbury Climate Resilience Project |
| Springfield | Springfield Museums | $90,000 | Elijah Blake House Preservation Project |
| Williamstown | Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute | $125,000 | Clark Art Security Video Surveillance and Recording System |
| Sterling | Sterling Fair Committee | $13,000 | Sterling Fair Bleachers and Livestock Pens |
| Adams | The Adams Theater Presents | $27,000 | Essential Infrastructure Improvements for the Adams Theater Facade & Lobby |
| Beverly | The Cabot Performing Arts Center | $190,000 | Stage Upgrade Project |
| Dennis | The Cape Playhouse | $155,000 | Cape Playhouse - Stage House Reinforcement with Structural Steel & Kickers |
| Amherst | The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art | $190,000 | Modernizing Audio-Visual Systems to Strengthen Visitor Engagement and Marketing |
| Salem | The House of the Seven Gables Settlement Association | $45,000 | Hawthorne Museum Phase II |
| Lenox | The Mount, Edith Wharton's Home | $125,000 | The Mount Facilities Building |
| Barnstable | Town of Barnstable | $15,000 | Hyannis Wayfinding & Branding |
| Belchertown | Town of Belchertown | $6,000 | Lake Wallace / Foley Field Kiosk & Wayfinding Signage |
| Concord | Town of Concord | $14,000 | Concord Black History Markers |
| Lexington | Town of Lexington | $60,000 | Town of Lexington Wayfinding Signage |
| Truro | Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill | $90,000 | Edgewood Farm Deck |
| Lenox | Ventfort Hall Association | $48,000 | Ventfort Hall Salon Restoration |
| Williamstown | Williamstown Rural Lands | $155,000 | Sheep Hill Campus Renovation |
| New Bedford | Zeiterion Theatre | $155,000 | Zeiterion Capital Improvement Project |
| Boston | Zoo New England | $190,000 | Zoo New England’s African Experience Exhibit: Driving Cultural Tourism at Franklin Park Zoo |
| $6,340,000 |
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