Pop-Up Pods Coming To Downtown Marlborough For Shopping

MARLBOROUGH, MA — Come this spring, there will be a new reason to go to Marlborough City Hall.

Marlborough officials were recently notified that the 495/MetroWest Partnership will award the city a more than $34,000 grant to construct retail pods at the back of City Hall along Weed Street. Officials hope to bring more foot traffic to the area, and help small businesses.

"This grant will give some small businesses who aren't able to rent on Main Street an opportunity to showcase their products downtown on a temporary basis, thus strengthening our local economy," Mayor Arthur Vigeant wrote in a recent memo to councilors.

Marlborough's award is part of a larger chunk of money sent to the 495/MetroWest Partnership through the state Regional Economic Development Organization (REDO) program. REDO grants aim to grow local small businesses.

The 495/MetroWest Partnership also awarded $40,000 in REDO funds to Westborough and Acton to share to fill vacant downtown storefronts.

The retail pods coming to Marlborough will be open from spring to fall, according to the city. Vigeant said work on the project will begin in the spring.

Separately, the Mass Cultural Council has given the Marlborough Economic Development Corp. a $15,000 grant to continue the downtown food truck festival. The city's third food truck festival was held most recently in September.