Four Greater Gardner communities to receive $1.8 million in state grants to promote growth
Four Greater Gardner communities received $1.8 million in grants from the state-wide program FY24 Community One Stop Growth Awards.
Gardner, Ashburnham, Templeton, and Westminster all got money from the state to cover the cost of local economic development projects. Municipalities can use the grant money to fund many projects that range from downtown initiative programs to redeveloping underutilized properties into affordable housing.
The program dispersed grants to 161 Massachusetts municipalities, totaling $164 million in awarded funds. Other communities surrounding Greater Gardner have received grants include Leominster, Fitchburg, Sterling, and Athol.
In Central Massachusetts, 60 communities received $30,125,952 in award money—the four Greater Gardner communities received $1,878,500 in total.
Gardner
The city of Gardner received $90,000 from the Community Planning Grant program to fund the update of two urban renewal plans and the city's first housing production plan before city officials can begin a full comprehensive master plan. Mayor Nicholson said their goal is to tackle the full master plan process within the next five to ten years.
The second award of $500,000 went to Lowell-based real estate investment firm Millennium Holding Group LLC to fund a redevelopment project for the 25 Main St. building in downtown Gardner into 14 market-rate housing units on the upper floor and commercial spaces on the first floor. The investment firm plans to use the money to support gap funding to install high-efficiency electric mini-splits, improve life safety systems in the building, and upgrade the elevator.
Ashburnham
The town of Ashburnham got one award of $25,000 from the Massachusetts Downtown Initiative. The Mass Downtown program offers municipalities financial assistance to fund revitalization projects in the communities' downtown areas. Ashburnham officials plan to use the grant to support the branding of the town's village center and to develop a public wayfinding system to connect the center to the town's natural resources and trails from downtown Ashburnham.
Town officials plan to hire a graphic design marketing firm to create signage around the downtown area and lead the efforts to complete the project—officials plan to use the grant money to cover the cost of hiring a consultant.
Templeton
The $750,000 award funds the redevelopment of the Old Baldwinville Elementary School building at 16 School St. in Templeton. MPZ Development LLC, a Milton-based developer, received the grant to cover the cost of converting the former school building into 54 housing units.
The developers plan to make 49 affordable housing units, and the remaining five are priced at market rate. MPZ Development LLC works with public agencies and local organizations to create affordable multi-family housing across the state.
Westminster
The town of Westminster received $153,500 to support updating the town's master plan.
This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Gardner, towns to receive Community One Stop Growth state grants
