12 December, 2024
State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, Chair of the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust (Trust) Board of Trustees, announced on December 4, 2024, that $69.2 million in grants were awarded for 52 projects in 42 communities across Massachusetts. The grant funds will help cities, towns, counties, and water utilities pay for the $481.8 million in total project cost for improvements to drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.
A list of communities and approved projects that are receiving grants is attached.
The funding for these grants is available from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which provided additional federal funding to the Trust with a requirement that part of the funding be provided as grants.
“These grants will support vital water projects throughout our state,” said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg. “By using federal funding, we can reduce costs for our local communities and create positive impacts statewide, particularly in communities that need improvements most.”
“Clean water and reliable water infrastructure are vital to the health and resilience of Massachusetts communities,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These grants demonstrate our administration’s commitment to winning every federal dollar available for Massachusetts, and the projects they fund will ensure the access to clean water that our residents deserve. Thank you to Treasurer Goldberg and the Board of Trustees for their leadership in the process of securing these funds.”
"These grants represent a meaningful step toward addressing the pressing water infrastructure needs of 42 communities across Massachusetts," said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. "By reducing the financial burden, especially for towns facing environmental and economic challenges, we are ensuring that critical projects move forward without compromising local budgets. This initiative underscores our commitment to clean, safe water for every resident, while building a more resilient and equitable future."
The grants will be provided as loan forgiveness and are part of a larger low or no-interest loan. The grants were awarded by project category and provide much needed financial assistance towards high-priority projects. Additionally, communities that qualify as “Disadvantaged Communities”, determined by an affordability metric that ranks each community in the Commonwealth, have received additional loan forgiveness funds to ensure that funding is given to the communities that need it most. The Trust understands that certain communities face exceptional environmental and financial challenges. By utilizing loan forgiveness, this can minimize the fiscal impact of these vital water infrastructure projects.
“These grants reflect the shared commitment between our administration and Massachusetts municipalities to secure federal resources that enable tangible benefits for residents,” said Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew J. Gorzkowicz. “I look forward to seeing these funds deployed in cities and towns across Massachusetts, where they will improve safety and quality of life.”
The Trust, in collaboration with MassDEP, helps communities build or replace water infrastructure that enhances ground and surface water resources, ensures the safety of drinking water, protects public health, and develops resilient communities. It accomplishes these objectives by providing low-interest loans and grants to cities, towns, and water utilities through the Massachusetts State Revolving Funds (SRFs). The SRF programs are partnerships between the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. SRFs function like an environmental infrastructure bank by financing water infrastructure projects in cities and towns across the Commonwealth.
For More Information
For more information on our different loan programs, please visit the SRF Programs page at https://www.mass.gov/srf-programs and for more information on our Loan Forgiveness Program, please visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/the-disadvantaged-community-loan-forg…. To learn about past meetings or find project descriptions, please visit: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/board-of-trustees-meeting-information. For information on how to apply for an SRF loan, please visit MassDEP’s website at https://www.mass.gov/lists/state-revolving-fund-applications-forms
About the Clean Water Trust
Since its establishment in 1989, the Trust has loaned nearly $9.1 billion to improve and maintain the quality of water in the Commonwealth. An estimated 97 percent of Massachusetts' residents have benefited from the financial assistance of the Trust.
