Danvers Receives Grant Through Massachusetts Downtown Initiative

The Baker-Polito Administration announced on Thursday that the Massachusetts Downtown Initiative will award Danvers funds to study parking development in town, and funds for consultant services in eight other communities, in an effort to support local downtown revitalization efforts.

In addition to the parking development in Danvers, project awards will support the implementation of a business improvement district in Great Barrington, an assessment of cultural assets in Natick, analyses of street designs in North Adams and North Reading, a market study in Palmer, a retail retention program in Millbury, and navigation plans in Amherst and Greenfield.

These awards, total $100,000, are set aside from the Community Development Block Grant program every year and are administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development.

The Massachusetts Downtown Initiative reaches an estimated 180 communities annually and has leveraged over half a million dollars in private funds for improving downtowns across the Commonwealth. It has contributed to transformative and lasting impacts in communities such as Dedham, Maynard, Natick, Needham, Randolph, Rockport, Warren and Winchester.

For more information visit the Department of Housing and Community Development’s website: http://www.mass.gov/hed/economic/eohed/dhcd/