Press Release: 2024-12-20
Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates $2.5 Million Through Community One Stop for Growth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
12/19/2024
MEDIA CONTACT
Meggie Quackenbush, Director of Communications
Online
Email Meggie Quackenbush, Director of Communications at Margaret.M.Quackenbush@mass.gov
BROCKTON — Yesterday, the Healey-Driscoll Administration joined state and local officials in Brockton to celebrate awards through Community One Stop for Growth, including $2.5 Million for 26 grant awards through the Urban Agenda Program.
These grants were included in the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s recently announced $161 million for 313 grant awards to support local economic development projects in 171 communities across the state. The Mass Leads Act, a far-reaching $4 billion economic development bill that Governor Healey signed into law this fall, reauthorizes several programs in the Community One Stop for Growth.
“We are committed to opening doors to economic success for everyone in Massachusetts,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Through the Urban Agenda program, we are supporting 17 communities by expanding entrepreneurship opportunities, building up our talent pipeline, and creating strong economies for our residents.”
“The Community One Stop for Growth strengthens communities across the state," said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We’re excited to help urban areas address their unique challenges and look forward to collaborating with municipalities to create equitable paths to workforce and small business development.”
“The Urban Agenda Grant Program invests in key projects such as entrepreneurship centers and job training programs,” said Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao. “These 26 awards will energize local economies, create sustainable jobs, and foster innovation at the local level.”
The Urban Agenda Grant Program, which is administered by the Executive Office of Economic Development, promotes economic vitality and cultivating stronger neighborhoods across Massachusetts. This year’s awards will fund projects in 17 communities. Of the 26 projects, 85 percent are located in a Housing Choice Community, 69 percent are located in a Gateway City, 42 percent are located in an MBTA community, and 4 percent are located in a rural community.
“The Urban Agenda Grant Program highlights the power of local leadership and collaboration in driving economic growth and community development,” said Senator Michael D. Brady (D-Brockton). “By investing in projects that support workforce development, small businesses, and community-driven initiatives, we are empowering neighborhoods and strengthening local economies. This program plays a critical role in unlocking opportunities that help cities like Brockton thrive and build a more vibrant, equitable Commonwealth.”
Urban Agenda Awards:
Action for Equity Inc. Boston, - $100,000
Action for Equity Inc. will use this grant to support Community Voice for Green Equity Opportunities, which plans to connect residents with resources and opportunities to enter the green jobs industry and help job seekers reduce barriers to employment with CORI sealing assistance.
Blackshires Community Empowerment Foundation, Pittsfield - $100,000
Blackshires Community Empowerment Foundation Corp will use this grant towards its leadership program for Black Community members in the Berkshire Region, serving as a training and education pipeline to municipal and local service.
Bunker Hill Community College, Chelsea - $33,000
Bunker Hill Community College will use this grant towards its Spanish Language for English Speakers program, targeting small businesses and municipal service providers In Chelsea to boost communications and the local economy.
Community Action Inc., Haverhill - $100,000
Community Action Inc. will use this grant to support "Job Fair/Career Development: Immigrant Focus," a job fair aiming to provide bilingual, local, neighborhood access to employment and career development services.
Community Music School of Springfield, Springfield - $100,000
Community Music School of Springfield will use this grant towards its Trust Transfer Project, a project that will address barriers to financial stability for low-income independent workers and small business owners in the arts and culture sector.
Community Teamwork Inc., Lowell - $ 100,000
Community Teamwork Inc. will use this grant to support its Entrepreneurship Center, a center that will offer mentorship and training to aspiring youth entrepreneurs ages 16-25, teaching them foundational business topics and soft skills.
Downtown Brockton Association, Brockton - $100,000
Downtown Brockton Association will use this grant to support its Empower Downtown Brockton plan, which will boost economic growth and job creation through four key programs: Restaurant Startup Workshops, Minority Business Technical Assistance Network, Equitable Workforce Pipeline Initiative, and Downtown Brockton Artisans Market.
Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District Inc., Worcester - $100,000
Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District Inc. will use this grant to support expansion of the Out to Lunch Festival and Farmers Market, extending the season from six to 10 days and increasing the number of vendors and foot traffic, which will create additional economic opportunity for local farmers and vendors.
Economic Development Council of Western MA, Springfield - $100,000
The Economic Development Council of Western MA will use this grant to support "Barriers & Breakthroughs," a collaborative pilot that engages job seekers and employers to help investigate a larger systems change effort for incorporating skills-based hiring into a workforce development structure.
Economic Development Industrial Corp. of Lynn, Lynn - $100,000
The Economic Development Industrial Corp. of Lynn will use this grant to support the Lynn Small Business Partnership program, a program that will strengthen the micro and small business sectors of Lynn providing critical assistance to small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.
English for New Bostonians, Boston - $100,000
English for New Bostonians will use this grant to support its Immigrant Entrepreneurs (E4IE) classes that will teach 30-36 immigrant small businesses owners to create their own income-generating work and teach technology skills in the context of business content to grow businesses offering household-sustaining wages.
Entrepreneurship for All - Cape Cod, Provincetown - $100,000
Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) in Cape Cod will use this grant to launch 26 new businesses through its inclusive business accelerator, providing businesses with access to office space and internet, engaging entrepreneurs in a pitch contest, and providing entrepreneurs with one-on-one business pitch coaching and business loan resources from the Cape Cod Community Development Partnership.
City of Somerville - $100,000
The City of Somerville will partner with the Brazilian Community Heritage Foundation to implement classes for small business owners on topics such as required certifications, business strategy, financial planning, and digital literacy.
Follow My Steps Foundation, Springfield - $100,000
Follow My Steps Foundation will use this grant towards its By Youth, For Youth Entrepreneurship Program, a program that empowers marginalized young people to become entrepreneurs, providing mentorship, training, and real-world experience.
Just-A-Start, Cambridge - $100,000
Just-A-Start will use this grant towards its Families Moving Forward program, an economic mobility program addressing multiple barriers to success by providing integrated services and one-on-one coaching to 20 income-qualified parents of minor children in Cambridge to improve their families' health, housing stability, and economic independence.
La Colaborativa, Chelsea - $100,000
La Colaborativa will use this grant towards its Green Jobs Building Trades program, supporting tailored training programs, job placement assistance, and partnerships to catalyze economic development and promote sustainable practices in construction.
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art Foundation Inc., North Adams - $85,000
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art Foundation Inc. will use this grant to support the North Adams Artist Business Capacity-Building Program, which will support under-resourced artist entrepreneurs through person and online workshops, one-on-one and small group coaching, peer networking, and presentation opportunities.
New North Citizens' Council Inc., Springfield - $100,000
New North Citizens' Council Inc will use this grant to support the Mano a la Obra (Let's Get Down to Work!) program, which boosts workforce development in the North End supporting economic advancement of Latinos in the City of Springfield using the Individualized Placement Support (IPS) model.
North Shore Community Development Coalition, Salem - $100,000
North Shore Community Development Coalition will use this grant to support its El Punto Small Business Program, providing technical assistance and business promotion to local businesses and business owners.
Rites of Passage and Empowerment, Pittsfield - $100,000
Rites of Passage and Empowerment will use this grant to support monthly empowerment program meetings, after-school clubs, college visits to HBCU's, and additional programming throughout the first half of 2025.
Springfield Business Improvement District, Springfield - $100,000
Springfield Business Improvement District will use this grant to support its Lease it Local program, which incentivizes small businesses to occupy vacant ground-floor units through rent subsidy and technical assistance.
The Community Group, Lawrence - $100,000
The Community Group will use this grant towards the Family Child Care Licensing Support program, that will grow the family child care (FCC) industry and build up FCC businesses.
The Neighborhood Developers, Revere - $100,000
The Neighborhood Developers will use this grant to support the Revere Works Coalition program, which helps residents secure employment and enter job training by implementing a continuum of workforce development (WFD) services.
Veronica Robles Cultural Center, Boston - $100,000
Veronica Robles Cultural Center will use this grant to provide over 200 entrepreneurs and artists with bilingual and culturally resonant workshops, marketing assistance, coaching, and networking through its Latino Cultural Entrepreneurship (LCE) project.
Way Finders Inc., Holyoke - $82,000
Way Finders Inc. will use this grant to support its months-long bilingual training program for 30 Holyoke residents, focused on employment readiness and leadership skills.
ZUMIX Inc., Boston - $100,000
ZUMIX Inc. will use this grant to collaborate with the Celebrity Series Youth Audio Tech program to provide audio, video, and lighting for the Neighborhood Arts performances, January through June of 2025.
About the Community One Stop for Growth
The Community One Stop for Growth is an annual program overseen by the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) that provides a streamlined process for cities and towns to apply for 13 state grant programs administered by EOED, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, and the quasi-public agency MassDevelopment. Programs in the One Stop fund economic development projects related to community capacity building, planning and zoning, site preparation, building construction, infrastructure, and housing development. To learn more about the One Stop, visit www.mass.gov/guides/community-one-stop-for-growth.