Arlington has been awarded six grants for more than $2 million through the Commonwealth’s Community One Stop for Growth grant program, according to a press release distributed by the town.
The program offers funding and support to housing and economic development projects related to placemaking, planning and zoning, site preparation, building construction, and infrastructure. The grants totaled $2,048,413.
“Arlington is only eligible for these awards due to our compliance with the MBTA Communities Law and received preferential consideration due to our recent designation as a Housing Choice Community,” the town said in the release.
“We are grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for its investment in Arlington…,” said Arlington Town Manager Jim Feeney. “These awards will help us strengthen our downtown, support [the] creation of 40 affordable housing units, and appropriately plan for future growth. The One Stop approach lets communities like ours get real support to make progress on our common vision. I’d like to acknowledge the efforts of our Department of Planning and Community Development for their work in securing these grants.”
Two of these awards will specifically support the Housing Corporation of Arlington’s (HCA) Emma’s Court project to construct 40 new units of affordable housing at 840 Mass. Ave. and 17 Newman Way. The town was awarded a $673,413 HousingWorks Grant to replace the water main line along Newman Way and a $500,000 Housing Choice Community Grant for the construction of the new units. Last year, the town was awarded a $3.5 million MBTA Communities Catalyst grant to support HCA’s acquisition of these two properties as well as the building at 846 Mass Ave, which will result in an overall preservation of 57 existing units of naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH) and the construction of 40 new units of deed-restricted affordable housing which will be available to households earning at or below 60% of the area median income (AMI).
- Additionally, the town was awarded:
- $500,000 Mass Downtown Initiative Capital grant for improvements at the Mass Ave and Peg Spengler Way intersection to improve pedestrian safety, public transit access, streetscape aesthetics, and ADA-compliant sidewalks;
- $280,000 MassWorks grant to design upgrades to the aging Dow Avenue pump station to support an increase in the number of residents in the area that is projected to occur with the construction of an assisted living facility for seniors that is proposed at the St. Camillus church property;
- $65,000 Community Planning Grant to hire a consultant to prepare an update to the Town’s current Housing Production Plan (HPP) which will expire next year. The HPP is required by the state and outlines a community’s proactive strategy for planning and developing affordable housing to meet its affordable housing needs.
- $30,000 Mass Vacant Storefront Tax Credit Allocation, which is a renewal grant to use refundable tax credits to help smaller businesses that are struggling to enter Arlington’s commercial market. This program will assist up to three businesses with up to $10,000 each in tax credits.
Read the State’s release for all award recipients.
This announcement, published Oct. 3, 2026, used information provided by the town.
