Press Release: 2025-03-13 00:00:00
Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $8.7 Million to Compliant MBTA Communities in Support of New Housing
MBTA Community Catalyst Funds Will Unlock Up to 2,332 New Housing Units, Lower Costs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
3/13/2025
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Karissa Hand, Press Secretary
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Call Karissa Hand, Press Secretary at 617-725-4025
BOSTON — Today the Healey-Driscoll Administration awarded $8.7 million in MBTA Community Catalyst Funds to 10 fully compliant MBTA communities in FY25.
Cities and towns across the state are working hard to develop housing for their residents in new multifamily districts created by the MBTA Communities Law. In recognition of this progress, the administration established the MBTA Communities Catalyst Fund competitive grant awards to support activities related to housing creation, from improving or expanding critical infrastructure, to funding the acquisition of land for new development.
“The MBTA Communities Law is already paving the way for new housing for Massachusetts residents, and today we are proud to award the first round of MBTA Community Catalyst Funds in support of cities and towns that are working hard to bring down housing costs for their residents,” said Governor Maura Healey. “From the start, our administration has been committed to working closely with communities to not only come into compliance with the law, but to also provide resources to help them turn their plans into reality. These funds will be crucial for supporting housing creation and infrastructure upgrades so that we can make housing more affordable across the state.”
“The MBTA Communities Law is a crucial tool for making housing more affordable for all Massachusetts residents,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Today’s Catalyst Fund awards will help compliant cities and towns invest in critical infrastructure improvements and land acquisitions to support the development of even more new units and lower costs.”
The MBTA Community Catalyst Fund is a new funding source created by the Healey-Driscoll Administration available to fully compliant MBTA Communities and works in partnership with the MassWorks and HousingWorks competitive grant programs to provide funding for local infrastructure projects and improvements to help unlock housing production. The administration has capitalized the MBTA Catalyst Fund with $15 million.
“The Catalyst Fund is yet another state funding source to help communities jumpstart housing production,” said Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus. “Increasing the supply of housing helps lower costs for all residents and these grant awards give our communities a hand as they work to build the housing they need.”
In total, awarded projects are expected to unlock up to 2,332 housing units in 3A districts, including units with affordability, by facilitating acquisition of land or funding infrastructure improvements, making future development possible.
| Community | Award Total | Project Description | Unit Potential Supported by Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington | $1,000,000 | Arlington will pass through funds to Housing Corporation of Arlington (HCA) to acquire parcel adjacent to an existing project. | 88 |
| Chelsea | $1,000,000 | Chelsea will design water and sewer improvements to serve its 3A district and support planned housing development projects. | 780 |
| Easton | $300,000 | Easton will extend sewer to serve a new housing development in its 3A district | 53 |
| Grafton | $1,560,029 | Grafton and Claremont Companies will construct and install an ADA-accessible ramp to the North Grafton commuter rail station. | 233 |
| Harvard | $1,145,000 | Harvard will extend water and sewer utilities to its 3A district and leverage Minco Development Corporation’s construction of 220 new units. | 220 |
| Lincoln | $430,000 | Lincoln will design phase II of water main extension servicing its 3A district | (3A district-wide project) |
| Revere | $1,000,000 | Revere will pass through funds to The Neighborhood Developers (TND) to acquire a parcel to build up to 300 new units. | 300 |
| Salem | $1,000,000 | Salem will improve water, sewer, and drainage infrastructure in its 3A district to support housing development projects. | 123 |
| Somerville | $1,000,000 | Somerville will pass through funds to Somerville Community Land Trust to acquire a parcel and partner with Habitat for Humanity to build up to 5 affordable homeownership units in 3A district. | 5 (affordable ownership units) |
| Westford | $300,000 | Westford will conduct pre-development activities for critical transportation connectivity in its 3A district to leverage new development. | 530 |
The 10 municipalities receiving a competitive award in FY25 are fully compliant with the law and submitted specific projects to be supported by the Catalyst Fund. When making awards, EOHLC reviewed each project’s location within a multifamily district, project readiness, financial feasibility, support for affordability, and total units to be supported by the project. Additional awards are expected in FY26.
There are currently 50 fully compliant MBTA communities; 119 communities that have adopted zoning intended to comply with the law and over 3,700 housing units in the development pipeline thanks to newly created multifamily zoning districts.