The Town of Acton has received a $2.3 million grant from the MassWorks Infrastructure Grant Program and a $63,600 grant from the Housing Choice Grant Program.

On Wednesday, Oct. 26, Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Undersecretary of Community Development Ashley Stolba and MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera were joined by state and local officials to announce more than $143 million in grant awards to support 337 local economic development projects in 169 communities across the state.

Community One Stop for Growth is a single application portal that provides a streamlined, collaborative review process of 12 state grant programs that fund economic development projects related to community capacity building, planning, and zoning, site preparation, building construction, and infrastructure.

"I want to thank the Baker-Polito Administration, our legislative delegation, and other stakeholders that helped us achieve these competitive grants," Town Manager Mangiaratti said. "The new sewer infrastructure for the senior housing project would not move forward without the financial support from the state."

MassWorks Infrastructure Grant

The grant will support the construction of a sewer extension for the Acton Housing Authority's affordable senior housing project. This will encompass infrastructure work to prepare for the housing, including utility extensions, drainage, and stormwater collection sites, retaining walls, hydrants, and sidewalks

As part of the affordable senior housing project, the town plans to construct a building with 41 accessible units for seniors and people with disabilities. Up to 50 people will be able to live in the building.

The new space will be called McManus Manor Residences and be located at 362 Main Street. It will be in close proximity to Kelley's Corner and will offer walkable access to a wide range of goods and services including a supermarket, banks, retail stores, restaurants, and other services.

"Thank you to the Baker-Polito Administration for this much-needed funding," Pierce said. "It will play a huge role in providing many seniors and people with disabilities in need with an accessible, safe, and comfortable place to live." 

Currently, the Acton Housing Authority has a waitlist of more than 2,000 people in need of affordable senior housing. More than half of the Housing Authority units are not accessible and are on upper floors with no elevators.

The MassWorks Infrastructure Program provides the largest and most flexible source of capital funds to municipalities and other eligible public entities for public infrastructure projects that support and accelerate housing production, spur private development, and create jobs throughout the Commonwealth.

Housing Choice Community Grant

Funding will go toward the Town's South Acton Vision and Action Plan and 3A Zoning project.

As part of the project, the town has launched a community engagement process to establish a vision for South Acton and evaluate how Acton can comply with the 3A regulations within the context of that vision. Part of that process is to identify the most appropriate area in South Acton for 3A-compliant zoning, which requires that there is a reasonably sized multi-family housing district in communities with MBTA service.

This grant funds phase two of this project, which will help develop zoning recommendations to advance the community vision established in phase 1 and meet state requirements. The process will result in a new plan for South Acton and zoning changes that will be brought to Town Meeting.

The Housing Choice Community Grant Program rewards municipalities that have produced a significant number of housing units in the last five years and that have adopted or established Best Practices that encourage housing production.

For more information on Community One Stop for Growth, click here.

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