Press Release  Treasurer Goldberg announces $108.1 million in loan forgiveness for 46 municipal water projects

Boston — State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, Chair of the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust (Trust) Board of Trustees, announced on November 9, 2026, that $108,122,538 in grants were awarded for 46 projects in 35 communities across Massachusetts. The grant funds will help cities, towns, counties, and water utilities pay for the $716,825,907 in total project cost for improvements to wastewater infrastructure. 

A list of communities and approved projects that are receiving grants is attached. 

The funding for these grants is available from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which provided additional federal funding to the Trust with a requirement that part of the funding be provided as grants. 

"These grants will support important projects throughout Massachusetts and help lower costs for local communities," said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, Chair of the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust. "The Trust is dedicated to improving water quality and protecting public health, particularly for the people in our state that need it most."

“Every community in Massachusetts deserves access to clean water and reliable infrastructure,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These investments will help 35 communities make critical upgrades to their wastewater systems, protect public health and keep costs down for residents and businesses.” 

“Our priority is ensuring that all communities have access to clean and safe water,” said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. “Through loan forgiveness, we are helping ease burdens on local budgets and residents' water bills while building more reliable water infrastructure for future generations.”

The grants will be provided as loan forgiveness and are part of a larger low or no-interest loan. The grants were awarded by project category and provide much needed financial assistance towards high-priority projects. Additionally, communities that qualify as “Disadvantaged Communities”, determined by an affordability metric that ranks each community in the Commonwealth, will receive additional loan forgiveness funds to ensure that funding is given to the communities that need it most. The Trust understands that certain communities face exceptional environmental and financial challenges. By utilizing loan forgiveness, this can minimize the fiscal impact of these vital water infrastructure projects. 

“The Clean Water Trust is one of the most effective tools Massachusetts has for enhancing and protecting access to clean and safe water in our communities," said Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew J. Gorzkowicz. "The grants we're announcing today reflect our strong partnership with cities and towns and our shared commitment to making responsible, forward-looking investments that benefit residents and strengthen local infrastructure."

The Trust, in collaboration with MassDEP, helps communities build or replace water infrastructure that enhances ground and surface water resources, ensures the safety of drinking water, protects public health, and develops resilient communities. It accomplishes these objectives by providing low-interest loans and grants to cities, towns, and water utilities through the Massachusetts State Revolving Funds (SRFs). The SRF programs are partnerships between the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. SRFs function like an environmental infrastructure bank by financing water infrastructure projects in cities and towns across the Commonwealth. 

For More Information      
For more information on our different loan programs, please visit the SRF Programs page and our Loan Forgiveness Program page. For information on past meetings or to find project descriptions, please visit the Board of Trustees Meeting  Information page. For information on how to apply for an SRF loan, please visit Mass DEP's State Revolving Fund Applications and Forms page.

About the Clean Water Trust
Since its establishment in 1989, the Trust has loaned roughly $10.4 billion to improve and maintain the quality of water in the Commonwealth. An estimated 97 percent of Massachusetts' residents have benefited from the financial assistance of the Trust.

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