Sen. Eldridge and Rep. Hogan Announce $618,500 for Housing and Transportation Improvements in Maynard
Grant funding will update residential spaces and strengthen pedestrian safety
Maynard, MA – State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough) and State Representative Kate Hogan (D-Stow) are proud to announce that the Executive Office of Economic Development has awarded $618,500 to the Town of Maynard through the Community One Stop for Growth grant program.
The funding comes from the Community One Stop for Growth program, the main operation for targeted public economic development investments in the Commonwealth. The One Stop is made up of 13 different grant programs that fund development projects related to community capacity building, planning and zoning, site preparation, building construction, and infrastructure. The consolidation of these programs under a single application streamlines grant procurement processes for municipalities as well as the Commonwealth.
The Housing Choice Grant Program will be used to complete a five-year update to the Town of Maynard’s 2021 Housing Production Plan. With the $60,000 from this grant, Maynard plans to hire a consultant to complete the plan, including data collection, analysis, and conducting community outreach.
The allotted $558,500 from the MBTA Community Catalyst Fund will be used to prepare Maynard’s final design documents to add pedestrian and bicycle paths along its one-mile portion of the Corridor. The multi-jurisdictional Powder Mill Road Corridor redevelopment initiative has been in process since 2019, and is designed to accommodate 474 residential units and the ongoing private construction of a 270-unit apartment complex immediately adjacent on the Maynard/Acton border.
“The Community One Stop for Growth grants provide invaluable support towards the maintenance and development of Massachusetts’ economic projects,” said Senator Eldridge. “I am deeply grateful for the Healey-Driscoll Administration, Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley, and Housing & Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus for their commitment to ensuring commercial and residential growth. These grants will help Maynard as they foster small businesses, housing developments, and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure that help these communities thrive.”
“Planning and design efforts to revitalize the Powder Mill Road corridor in Maynard are well underway. This new funding to plan and create safe bike and pedestrian pathways on a notoriously treacherous stretch of highway is critical to the ongoing rezoning process and will support new high-density mixed-use development and benefit existing neighborhoods,” said Representative Hogan. “We are grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Executive Offices of Housing and Economic Development for helping our communities further their vision of establishing the corridor as a regional economic driver."
“The time is here to begin putting the pieces in place that will help foster complete communities along the ‘Powder Mill Road Corridor’. Our residents and businesses want and deserve safe paths, Free from motorized vehicle traffic, to travel,” said Maynard Planning Director Bill Nemser. “This grant will allow us to design and engineer final plans for new sidewalks and paths along the corridor. Our hope is that we improve Powder Mill Road to a level where the existing neighborhoods as well as new businesses and residents can safely enjoy walking or bicycling along the corridor. The update of Maynard’s Housing Production Plan comes at a critical juncture in Maynard’s development: the community leadership recognizes the value a Housing Plan provides as a guiding tool. What the plan really provides is a snapshot telling us what Maynard’s housing needs are based on our current demographics and community trends. We are grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the Executive Offices of Housing and Economic Development, Senator Eldridge and Speaker Pro Tempore Hogan for all they have done to help us secure these grants.”
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