Fall River, MA – MassDevelopment has awarded a $10,000 Commonwealth Places COVID-19 Response Round: Resurgent Places grant to the Bristol County Chamber Foundation for Fall River Main Street Parklet Pilot, an outdoor dining parklet to be located on two on-street parking spaces in front of 10 Purchase Street in Fall River.
The organization will use these and other funds to buy concrete blocks, lumber, hardware, planters and plant materials, paint, graphics, sundries, outdoor furniture, and patio heaters, as well as cover labor, administrative, and permitting and insurance costs. The grant was awarded through MassDevelopment’s special Commonwealth Places COVID-19 Response Round: Resurgent Places, which was made available specifically to assist local economic recovery efforts as community partners prepare public spaces and commercial districts to serve residents and visitors.
Created in 2016, Commonwealth Places aims to engage and mobilize community members to make individual contributions for placemaking projects, with the incentive of a funding match from MassDevelopment if the crowdfunding goal is reached.
In June 2020, MassDevelopment announced the availability of $225,000 in funding for the Commonwealth Places COVID-19 Response Round: Resurgent Places. For this round, nonprofits and other community groups could apply to MassDevelopment for grants of up to $25,000. Up to $10,000 per project could be awarded as an unmatched grant; awards greater than $10,000 must be matched with crowdfunding donations. All grantees and projects will be required to follow the mandatory safety standards and protocols of the Commonwealth’s Reopening Massachusetts plan.
