Housing Choice Designation Participating Grant/Benefit Programs

In addition to exclusive access to the Housing Choice Grant Program through the Community One Stop for Growth, all Housing Choice Initiative Designated communities receive additional consideration, priority, and benefits from various programs offered through several state agencies in the Commonwealth.

Participating grant programs:

Agency/Grant Program	Grant Brief Description	Housing Choice Community Designation Benefit
EEA – Gateway Park Grants	Funds to assist Gateway Cities with all aspects of park and trail creation and restoration.	Consideration given to Designated Communities in grant evaluation and in the matching requirement.
EEA – LAND Grant Program	Acquisition of conservation land.	Bonus points for grant evaluation score for Designated Communities.
EEA – Land Use Planning Assistance Grants	Technical assistance grants to encourage land use regulations that advance Administration development objectives.	Housing Choice consistent housing production is prioritized and bonus points given for Designated Communities.
EEA – PARC Grant Program	Acquisition of recreation land, construction of new parks, renovation of existing parks.	Bonus points for grant evaluation score for Designated Communities.
EOED – MassWorks	Grants to municipalities for infrastructure improvements to support economic development and housing production.	Bonus points for grant evaluation score for Designated Communities.
EOED – Seaport Economic Council Grant Program	Grants to municipalities for planning and infrastructure improvements to support the marine economy.	Designated Communities may have required 20% match waived and/or the $1Million grant amount may be exceeded for eligible applicants.
MassDOT – Capital Program	Reconstruction and expansion projects that go through MassDOT’s scoring & project selection process.	For capital transportation projects, MassDOT will give bonus points to projects located within Designated Communities.
MassDOT – Complete Streets	Technical Assistance and Construction grants for communities to implement complete streets principals.	Bonus points for grant evaluation score for Designated Communities.
TRE/DEP – Clean Water Trust	2% interest loans for water pollution abatement and drinking water infrastructure projects.	1.5% interest rate instead of 2% interest rate, reducing debt service costs for Designated Communities.