Senate Assistant Majority Leader Joan B. Lovely (D-Salem) is pleased to announce that the Healey-Driscoll Administration, in partnership with Executive Office of Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao, has awarded economic development grants in Beverly, Peabody, and Salem as part of the FY25 Community One Stop for Growth initiative.
The City of Beverly has been awarded $3.5 million through the MassWorks program for the construction of a roundabout at the Dunham Rd/Brimbal Ave/Route 128 intersection, including the Route 128, Exit 46 southbound ramps. These intersection improvements will unlock approximately 70 acres of commercial/industrial zoned land and increase efficiency, safety, and access to an impacted residential neighborhood, all located along Dunham Road, a ¾ mile dead end street. The grant is intended to fund the construction of the project.
The City of Peabody has received $65,000 through the Site Readiness program to conduct an opportunities and constraints analysis for future growth at Centennial Park, a key business and industrial park on the North Shore.
The North Shore Community Development Coalition, located in Salem, has been awarded two separate $100,000 grants. The first grant, through the Collaborative Workspace program, will be used to renovate a 5,000 sq. ft. auditorium into a collaborative workspace for artists. The other, through the Urban Agenda program, will support the organization’s El Punto Small Business Program, providing local businesses with technical assistance and business promotion to increase audience engagement and revenue.
“I am excited to see these critical investments in Beverly, Peabody, and Salem,” Lovely said. “These grants will support new infrastructure improvements, economic growth, and community engagement, creating new opportunities for local businesses, residents, and artists. Thank you to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Secretary Hao for their leadership and dedication to supporting local economic growth and opportunities.”
Award letters are not binding commitments, and awards will not be funded until the awardee signs a contract with the funding agency; for projects in MBTA communities, contracts will only be executed if the community complies with the multifamily zoning mandate.
