The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development recently announced that the City of Everett is set to receive an $825,000 award through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, which provides competitive funding for municipalities to pursue economic development and support low- and moderate-income residents. Everett is one of only 57 cities and towns across the Commonwealth to receive this award.
“I am very pleased that the City of Everett will be receiving a grant from the Massachusetts Community Development Block Grant Program,” said Senator Sal DiDomenico. “This crucial funding will allow public officials to make much-needed improvements to our city’s social services and infrastructure, in addition to fostering economic development. I look forward to working with city officials and the Department of Housing and Community Development to ensure that the City of Everett continues receiving vital resources to keep our city moving forward.”
This CDBG award will allow the City of Everett to make infrastructure improvements to public facilities, provide housing rehabilitation assistance for 5 units of housing, and make microenterprise assistance to 8 businesses in the city. In addition, the grant will fund local social service programs regarding elder self-sufficiency, homelessness prevention, ESOL, youth services, and food pantry services.
“It’s fantastic news that Everett is part of this grant,” said Representative Joe McGonagle. “This is real money for crucial services in our city, and it will give Everett an economic boost that will help lift all our families. I’m keen to keep working with Senator DiDomenico, the Administration and other state officials to make sure we get the resources we need to keep Everett moving forward.”
The Massachusetts Community Development Block Grant Program is a federally funded, competitive grant program designed to help small cities and towns meet a broad range of community development needs. Assistance is provided to qualifying cities and towns for housing, community, and economic development projects that assist low and moderate-income residents, or by revitalizing areas of slum or blight.
“I am very grateful to our dedicated state officials for securing this grant for us. We are always thankful to Governor Baker’s administration, Senator DiDomenico and Representative McGonagle for working tirelessly to support our city,” Mayor Carlo DeMaria said. “We have a lot of exciting developments coming to Everett in the coming year. This grant will help us improve our infrastructure and further our city’s growth.”
Last year, the city of Everett also received a Community Development Block Grant, and used the funds to perform a number of important public services, including rehabilitation work on Florence Street Park, assistance to local nonprofit groups, and administration of the Everett Planning Department. Taken together, the activities and programs funded through last year’s CDBG grant allowed city officials and public workers to bring more social services to residents, improve access for persons with disabilities, and help Everett remain a vibrant place for people to live and work.
State Rep. Joe McGonagle and Senator Sal DiDomenico. with Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, after receiving the $825,000 Community Development Block Grant.