North Reading Awarded $100,000 MassWorks Grant

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr (R-Gloucester) joined with the Baker-Polito Administration today to announce that North Reading has been approved for a $100,000 MassWorks grant to assist with the development of a municipal wastewater collection system.

The MassWorks grant will support engineering and legal agreements between North Reading and Andover, Lawrence, North Andover and the Greater Lawrence Sanitary District (GLSD) as decisions are made regarding infrastructure location for North Reading’s in-town wastewater collection system and out-of-town conveyance system to GLSD.

Established in September of 2010, the MassWorks Infrastructure Program is a competitive state grant program that provides capital funds to municipalities and other eligible public entities to help address critical infrastructure needs. Administered by the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED), the program targets projects that support economic development, housing production, and job creation.

The development of a wastewater and sewerage system has been an ongoing priority for North Reading officials since 2014. By introducing a public sewer system for its commercial district and mixed-use areas, the town hopes to spur economic development and encourage more multi-family housing construction along Main Street. Town officials say the project will also promote ground and surface water quality and protect public health.

A total appropriation of $2,893,000 for the first phase of the project was approved at the October 2021 Town Meeting, using funding that was generated by the sale of the former JT Berry property on Lowell Road. This funding was used to conduct survey work and to cover the costs of preliminary design and permitting, as well as financial planning and analysis for the proposed sewer district area, which will encompass Route 28/Main Street, Concord Street, and portions of Park Street, North Street and Lowell Road.

The Department of Public Works has also been conducting a series of informational sessions in anticipation of a December 5 Special Town Meeting where residents will be asked to authorize full construction funding for the wastewater project.

“The lack of a wastewater collection system has often been cited as a significant obstacle to North Reading’s ability to attract new commercial development that will help expand the town’s tax base and ease the burden on residents,” said Representative Jones. “I want to thank the Baker-Polito Administration and Secretary Mike Kennealy for recognizing North Reading’s wastewater project and approving this grant.”

“This is the second $100,000 MassWorks grant in consecutive years for North Reading, a strong demonstration of the working partnership between state and local government officials to advance wastewater collection infrastructure,” said Senator Tarr. “North Reading received a substantial MassWorks grant four years ago for clean water projects from the Baker-Polito Administration. This state-awarded grant will help North Reading continue to protect the environment and promote well-planned growth.”

With the latest round of grant funding, 391 MassWorks grants totaling more than $709 million have been awarded to 197 cities and towns, which has helped to leverage approximately $17 billion in private investment. According to the Baker-Polito Administration, these grants have directly supported the creation of over 26,000 new housing units along with tens of thousands of construction and new permanent jobs.