State Announces Over $231,000 for Collaborative Workspace in Provincetown

Photo Courtesy of Provincetown Commons

PROVINCETOWN – The Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development has awarded more than $231,000 to create collaborative workspace in Provincetown.

The funding will support Provincetown Commons, the conversion of a 10,000-square-foot former school building into a coworking facility for the organization.

Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash joined Senator Julian Cyr, Provincetown Town Manager David Panagore, and Provincetown Commons Interim Executive Director Jill Stauffer to announce the award this week at an event at the site of Provincetown Commons’ future facility, the first award made in the third round of Collaborative Workspace Program grants.

“Collaborative workspaces create opportunity for idea sharing and community building, and play an important supportive role in our state’s innovation economy,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We’re proud to empower this kind of entrepreneurship through the Collaborative Workspace Program and we congratulate Provincetown Commons on today’s award.”

The Collaborative Workspace Program aims to accelerate business formation, job creation and entrepreneurial activity in communities by supporting infrastructure that fuels locally based innovation. MassDevelopment manages the Collaborative Workspace Program.

“The Collaborative Workspace Program Grant Fund will allow Provincetown Commons to bring year-round life back to emerging artists and small businesses through the renovation of 46 Bradford Street,” said State Representative Sarah Peake,

“This center has been an asset to Provincetown over the last century as a space for education and community gatherings. The revitalization of Provincetown Commons will beneficially contribute to our local economy and tourism in Provincetown by creating a welcoming space for artists and innovators for generations to come.”

Through its first two rounds of grants, the Collaborative Workspace Program provided $3 million in funding to more than 50 organizations for the planning, development, and build-out of different types of collaborative workspaces.