The Community One Stop for Growth is a funding initiative administered by the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) in partnership with the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) and MassDevelopment. This program serves as a single-application portal that allows applicants to access multiple state-funded grant programs aimed at supporting economic development efforts across Massachusetts. The initiative streamlines the grant application process, providing communities and organizations with a more efficient way to secure funding for projects that align with the state’s development priorities.
For FY2026, the Community One Stop for Growth includes several updates, such as improvements in application processing speed, the introduction of the Vacant Storefront Program as a tax credit incentive for revitalizing commercial areas, and the TDI Equity Investment Program, which provides grants ranging from $25,000 to $250,000 to support commercial revitalization efforts in designated Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) Districts. Additionally, the Urban Agenda Grant Program has been removed from the One Stop process and will operate under a separate Request for Proposals.
Eligible applicants include municipalities, public entities, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations, depending on the specific grant program. The application process is structured within a Development Continuum, which categorizes funding opportunities into five key areas: Community Activation & Placemaking, Planning & Zoning, Site Preparation, Buildings, and Infrastructure. Each category addresses different stages of economic development, from planning and zoning efforts to infrastructure improvements and commercial space revitalization.
The FY2026 application timeline consists of an Expression of Interest (EOI) period from January 24, 2025, to March 26, 2025, allowing applicants to receive guidance before submitting full applications. The full application period runs from May 5, 2025, to June 4, 2025, with award notifications expected in October 2025 and contracting beginning shortly after. Multiple webinars and virtual office hours are scheduled in February and April 2025 to assist applicants.
Applications are evaluated based on achievability, leadership capacity, project timeline, budget reasonability, expected community impact, and prior progress. Massachusetts communities interested in leveraging state funding for economic development projects are encouraged to review program details and prepare their applications well in advance of the deadlines.
For further inquiries, applicants can contact onestop@mass.gov.
