Funds to boost Boston construction jobs

Posted on July 8, 2017

A new found of funds may boost Boston construction jobs.

The Baker-Polito Administration awarded $1.8 million for the inaugural round of the Site Readiness Fund Program, enacted within the administration’s 2016 Economic Development Bill authorizing a $15 million to provide vital resources to municipalities, developers, and community development corporations to increase the inventory of development-ready sites across the Commonwealth.

“The Commonwealth continues to be a competitive place to do business, and this program supports local goals that drive growth and job creation,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are pleased this funding will increase the resources available for municipalities and their partners to attract investment and job growth in communities across Massachusetts.”

Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito joined Orange Town Planner Kevin Kennedy to announce the awards in Orange, which is receiving a Site Readiness grant to engage a planning and engineering team to assess the development potential of 432 acres of vacant and underused land near Exit 15 off Route 2.

“These grants will provide Massachusetts’ cities and towns the resources and tools to move their economic development goals forward,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We are pleased to make these inaugural awards to support local efforts to increase housing, eliminate blight, revitalize urban settings and create jobs.”

“Putting what resources we can into converting project-ready sites for new and existing Massachusetts companies makes great sense,” said Senate President Stan Rosenberg. “Our economy, and our people, are depending on it.”

The Site Readiness Fund Program aims to boost the Commonwealth’s inventory of large, well-located, project-ready sites; accelerate private-sector investment in industrial and commercial projects; and support conversion of abandoned sites and obsolete facilities into clean, actively-used, tax-generating properties. MassDevelopment administers the program on behalf of the Commonwealth, and 14 grants were issued in this first year to 11 communities across the state and one entity representing Metro Boston.