North Reading Awarded $100,000 MassWorks Grant

North Reading MA

25 October, 2021

4:50 PM

Description

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) joined with North Reading officials and the Baker-Polito Administration today to announce the Town's receipt of a $100,000 grant under the state's MassWorks Infrastructure Program. The state grant funding will be used to supplement the continued planning, engineering and design work North Reading has been undertaking in preparation for installing a municipal sewer system. This project is seen as a critical component for promoting economic development and business growth in the Town's commercially-zoned districts, including the Route 28 (Main Street) and Concord Street areas. In addition to facilitating more multi-family housing construction along Main Street, the development of a wastewater collection system will also provide many important environmental benefits to the Town by helping to prevent the potential contamination of local groundwater and surface waters due to failed septic systems. The Town has identified a route to convey wastewater to Greater Lawrence Sanitary District in North Andover, and with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation already planning roadwork along that route on Route 114 in North Andover, Town officials are hoping to partner with the agency to reduce construction costs, and were recently successful in securing approval for nearly $2.9 million in additional planning and design funding at the October 4 Town Meeting. "North Reading has been making significant investments in upgrading its infrastructure to not only improve services for residents, but also to attract more businesses, create jobs, and protect the environment," said Representative Jones. "This grant funding will assist the Town's ongoing efforts to establish a municipal sewer system that will help support new commercial growth and mixed-use development throughout the community." "This MassWorks grant further affirms that North Reading has succeeded again in working with partners in state government to move forward with critical water and sewer infrastructure work," said Senator Tarr. North Reading received a substantial MassWorks grant three years ago for clean water projects from the Baker-Polito Administration. "This newest award reflects an ongoing collaboration between local and state officials to help North Reading continue to protect the environment and foster well-planned growth." "We are pleased that the Commonwealth continues to support North Reading's efforts to facilitate responsible economic and housing development in our commercial corridors. This grant award is another example of our ongoing partnership, and we look forward to working with state transportation, economic and housing development, and environmental permitting officials over the course of the next year as we advance our wastewater project's permitting, design, and financing plan," stated Town Administrator Michael P. Gilleberto. Administered by the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, the MassWorks Infrastructure Program provides capital funds to municipalities and other eligible public entities through a competitive grant process. These funds are used primarily for public infrastructure projects that support and accelerate housing production, spur private development, and create jobs throughout the Commonwealth. Since 2015, the Baker-Polito Administration has awarded 259 MassWorks grants totaling over $533 million to 157 communities to help fund public infrastructure projects in all regions of the state. These grants have helped to create over 17,500 new housing units, along with tens of thousands of construction and permanent jobs, while also leveraging nearly $11 billion in private investments.