Lowell, MA – MassDevelopment has awarded a $38,555 grant to UTEC, Inc. to transform an underutilized open space at the intersection of Warren and Hurd Streets in downtown Lowell into The Green @ UTEC, a public outdoor area.
The space sits adjacent to the headquarters of UTEC, an agency serving justice-involved young adults. The organization will designate approximately 2,000sf at the space as a public park, using funds for outdoor seating, interior plumbing, electric work, and an AV system to support park programming. Additionally, UTEC will use a portion of the space for events and childcare and will also make it available for rent by community members and local businesses.
The project, which complements a 2019 MassWorks grant, is designed to help activate a highly visible area in downtown Lowell that has recently experienced increased vacancy due to the relocation of the Lowell District Courthouse. The funds are 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.
“Lowell will join Gateway Cities across Massachusetts in leading economic development through expanding green spaces that drive foot traffic downtown, stimulate their local economies, and create hubs of community and cultural activity,” said MassDevelopment president and CEO, Dan Rivera. “MassDevelopment is proud to help UTEC, Inc. advance The Green @ UTEC and breathe life into a prime parcel in downtown Lowell.”
Created in 2016, Commonwealth Places aims to engage and mobilize community members to make individual contributions to placemaking projects, with the incentive of a funding match from MassDevelopment if the crowdfunding goal is reached. For this project, UTEC, Inc. crowdfunded $28,555.
