Municipal ADA Improvement Grant Program

The Municipal ADA Improvement Grant Program is an initiative administered by the Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD) to support Massachusetts cities and towns in enhancing accessibility for individuals with disabilities. The program provides reimbursement funding aimed at updating municipalities’ ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plans and making capital improvements to remove barriers in public facilities, services, and programs. The goal is to improve both physical and communication accessibility across municipally owned properties. There are two types of grants available under this program: planning grants and project grants. Planning grants focus on developing or updating Self-Evaluation and Transition Plans as required by Title II of the ADA. Project grants, which can be awarded up to $250,000, fund capital improvements such as ramps, elevators, accessible signage, digital accessibility updates, and specialized equipment like all-terrain wheelchairs or amplification devices. Only capital-related expenses are eligible for funding; design plans, feasibility studies, and other non-capital expenditures must be covered by the applicant or provided as in-kind contributions. The FY26 grant application window is from May 1, 2025, at 9 AM until June 13, 2025, at 5 PM, with awards expected to be announced in Fall 2025. All grant-funded work must be completed by the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2026, and final reimbursement documentation must be submitted by July 11, 2026. The anticipated total funding available is $6 million, and grant recipients are not required to provide matching funds, although existing match funds may strengthen an application. Eligible applicants include municipally owned properties, school districts, and housing authorities. Private entities, nonprofits, and non-municipal properties are not eligible. Projects must comply with Massachusetts Architectural Access Board rules and the 2010 ADA Standards. The scoring process prioritizes applicants with thorough and detailed proposals, demonstrated need, up-to-date ADA planning, and support from historically marginalized communities. Additional credit is given to first-time applicants and projects that include supporting documentation such as plans, RFPs, or letters of recommendation. The grant selection committee is appointed by MOD’s Executive Director and includes individuals with disabilities, accessible design professionals, and MOD staff. The Grant Compliance Coordinator serves as a non-voting facilitator for the application process. Applicants are encouraged to attend a grant information session scheduled for May 19, 2025, or review a recorded session on MOD’s YouTube channel. Contact for the grant is Evan George, Grant Compliance Coordinator, who can be reached at Evan.George@mass.gov or (857) 248-7924.