Site Readiness Program

The Commonwealth Site Readiness Fund is a grant program established under the 2021 Economic Development Bill, with an authorized allocation of $15 million. It is administered by MassDevelopment to support site assembly, site assessment, predevelopment permitting, and other predevelopment and marketing activities. These funds are intended to enhance a site’s readiness for commercial, industrial, or mixed-use development. A portion of the funds is also dedicated to facilitating the expansion or replication of successful industrial parks, with an emphasis on promoting geographic equity in awarding grants. This grant is part of the Community One Stop for Growth program, a single-application portal that consolidates economic and community development grant programs to streamline targeted investments. The Site Readiness Program does not impose a maximum award limit; however, typical awards range between $50,000 and $500,000. Eligible project activities include due diligence work, constraint mapping, master planning, pre-permitting, engineering studies, capital improvements, property acquisition, and site-related construction. There is no specified maximum duration for projects funded under this program. Eligible applicants include municipalities, municipal agencies or authorities, economic development and industrial corporations, economic development authorities, and nonprofit development entities. Private sector entities are not eligible. Non-municipal applicants must provide a letter of support from the municipality demonstrating the public purpose and benefit of the proposed funding. Additionally, grantees must execute a standard grant agreement and, in some cases, repay the grant from net land sale proceeds, long-term lease revenue, or refinancing proceeds. The application process is managed through the Community One Stop for Growth online portal. Applicants must complete a full application consisting of three primary sections: Applicant Information, Project Information, and Certification of Application Submission Authority. While an Expression of Interest is optional, it is recommended for applicants seeking guidance before submitting their full application. All applications must be submitted electronically before the deadline, and late submissions will not be considered. Evaluation criteria focus on the likelihood of funding leading to site readiness and future development. Factors include community support, consistency with municipal or regional plans, zoning readiness, property size, regional impact, potential private investment, job creation, site accessibility, and the availability of matching funds. MassDevelopment staff will ensure compliance with statutory and program guidelines, and a review committee will score applications based on these criteria. Awards are contingent on state budget appropriations and successful contract execution. Applicants who receive funding will be notified through a formal award letter outlining grant conditions. Those who are not selected will also be informed in writing and may request feedback on their application. The online application process is accessed through the IGX platform, and municipalities must ensure that their designated grant administrator is registered within the system. Support is available through MassDevelopment and the One Stop program for applicants requiring assistance with the process.