Governor Charlie Baker
BOSTON – Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration is handing out $26 million in federally-funded grants to fund housing, transportation and other initiatives in dozens of smaller cities and towns, including many on Cape Cod.
The Community Development Block Grants are awarded to municipalities on a competitive basis to supplement local aid in the state budget.
On Thursday, Baker on Thursday handed out 33 block grants covering 65 cities and towns. He said they’ll help communities “solve local problems with local solutions.”
Dennis is getting $825,000 for childcare vouchers. Eastham and Harwich will share $899,161, while Edgartown, Aquinnah, West Tisbury and Chilmark get $873,473.
Oak Bluffs and Tisbury will receive $805,694. Provincetown, Wellfleet and Truro get $869,780. Wareham is in line for $825,000.
“Helping municipalities identify and solve local problems with local solutions ensures that funding is spent efficiently and effectively,” said Baker. He called the money “an investment in our cities and towns.”
Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said Community Development Block Grants are an effective vehicle for improving communities for those who live and work in them.
Some of the grants will help rehabilitate hundreds of units of housing across the state, while another will fund a domestic violence initiative in several western Massachusetts towns.
“Further economic development in Massachusetts requires a focused, effective, investment in infrastructure, education, and caretaker assistance,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash.
The state’s Community Development Block Grant Program is a federally funded, competitive grant program designed to help small communities meet a broad range of community development needs.
In Massachusetts, the state CDGB program has distributed $237 million through more than 300 grants in the last seven years.
