Press Release  Treasurer Goldberg Announces $46.8 million in Grants for 23 Municipal Water Projects at the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust Board of Trustees Special June Meeting

BOSTON — State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, Chair of the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust (Trust) Board of Trustees, announced on June 25, 2025, that $46,827,295 in grants were awarded for 23 projects in 22 communities across Massachusetts. The grant funds will help cities, towns, counties, and water utilities pay for the $248,424,707 in total project cost for improvements to drinking water and 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 support vital projects, ensuring the safety of our drinking water and protecting public health, while lessening the financial strain on local governments,” said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg. “By leveraging federal resources, we are able to move forward with improvements that deliver real, long-term benefits, especially in the communities that need them most.”

"Massachusetts has some of the cleanest drinking water in the country, and that's in large part thanks to the important work our municipalities, counties and water utilities do to maintain drinking water and wastewater infrastructure,” said Governor Maura Healey. “I'm proud to work with Treasurer Goldberg and the Clean Water Trust to deliver this funding that will lower the cost of water projects and help ensure that all Massachusetts residents continue to have the clean water they deserve."

"Our priority is to ensure everyone has access to clean and safe water," said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. "This investment will help cities and towns move forward with critical water infrastructure projects without straining local budgets or bills. These grants will support 23 projects and build a more resilient Massachusetts—which is good for our economy and our environment."

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.

“These grants will improve safety and quality of life for Massachusetts residents while helping to alleviate pressure on municipal budgets,” said Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew J. Gorzkowicz. “I look forward to seeing communities across the state benefit from projects supported by these funds.”

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 at https://www.mass.gov/srf-programs and for more information on our Loan Forgiveness Program, please visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/the-disadvantaged-community-loan-forgiveness-program. To learn about past meetings or find project descriptions, please visit: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/board-of-trustees-meeting-information. For information on how to apply for an SRF loan, please visit MassDEP’s website at https://www.mass.gov/lists/state-revolving-fund-applications-forms 

About the Clean Water Trust

Since its establishment in 1989, the Trust has loaned nearly $9.7 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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