Massachusetts Equitable Development Technical Assistance Program
The Massachusetts Equitable Development Technical Assistance Program is designed to equip community-based organizations in Massachusetts with the skills and tools to advance sustainable, equitable development and affordable housing in their own communities. Applications are currently open for the 2024-2025 cohort of the program.
This new phase builds on the success of previous iterations, including the 2023 Equitable Development TA Cohort and the Massachusetts Opportunity Zones Academy in 2019.
Smart Growth America has launched the next cohort of a statewide technical assistance program for community-based organizations (CBOs) in Massachusetts. The 2024-25 Massachusetts Equitable Development Technical Assistance Program will build on previous efforts to support CBOs through capacity building, network development, and workshops and training. The focus will be on equitable housing and transportation policies and strategies, including zoning solutions, with special emphasis on Massachusetts Gateway Cities seeking designation as Housing Choice Initiative Communities.
This program is open to Massachusetts community-based organizations (including 501c3s, faith-based organizations, community land trusts, and non-profit organizations) based in Commonwealth-designated Gateway Cities and Housing Choice Initiative Communities.
Interested in advancing equitable development and affordable housing, as well as other key smart growth initiatives?
Apply by November 20 using this link or by using the application form embedded in the next tab.
Program background
In recent years, Massachusetts has actively pursued legislative measures to address its housing crisis—an estimated need of approximately 200,000 rental and homeowner units. With significant funding available from the Commonwealth, this is a crucial opportunity for organizations and communities to leverage state support for localized, equitable housing development.
This technical assistance effort seeks to enhance the existing capacity of cohort CBOs by providing support for advocacy and capacity-building initiatives that will have a lasting impact beyond the official partnership period. Efforts will promote zoning reform policies that advance equitable housing, economic development, and transportation initiatives.
Apply nowCommunity-based organizations in Massachusetts can apply today to receive free technical assistance to advance smart growth initiatives related to equitable development and housing affordability.
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on November 20, 2024.
Opportunity:
Work with us! Smart Growth America (SGA) is providing free technical assistance in land use, zoning, and planning to community-based organizations in Massachusetts interested in advancing equitable development and housing affordability.
Who is Eligible:
This program is open to Massachusetts community-based organizations (including 501c3s, faith-based organizations, community land trusts, and non-profit organizations) based in Commonwealth-designated Gateway Cities and Housing Choice Initiative Communities.
Historically, Gateway Cities were midsized, urban industrial hubs that provided working and middle-class jobs, opportunities, and a “gateway” to the American Dream. However, as manufacturing jobs declined over the decades, these cities struggled to attract new investments. Despite facing significant social and economic challenges, Gateway Cities possess valuable assets such as existing infrastructure, dense urban fabrics, and historic architecture. The increasing demand for walkable neighborhoods and entrepreneurial businesses seeking innovative urban environments present new opportunities for these cities to drive regional growth. Notably, Gateway Cities are eligible for the Housing Development Incentive Program, which provides tax incentives to developers of affordable housing projects.
- Population between 35,000 and 250,000
- Median household income below the state average and educational attainment rates below the state average
Communities designated as Housing Choice Initiative Communities are eligible for state-level funding, incentives, rewards, and technical assistance aimed at enhancing local housing stock.
- At least a 5% increase in new housing units (or at least 500 total new units) over the previous 5 years; OR
- At least a 3% increase in new housing units (or at least 300 total new units) over the previous 5 years AND demonstrate 7 of 15 of the following best practices.
About the Program
Timeframe and Sub-grant Opportunity
November 2024 – April 2025
Participation will require a commitment to regular meetings with SGA over a 3-5 month period. SGA will provide a $10,000 sub-grant to support community-based organizations in the technical assistance process. Additionally, the program will cover travel expenses for participants to attend a convening and a national conference.
Topics that can be addressed:
- Recommendations on zoning innovations, such as by-right multi-family housing, form-based codes, Accessory Dwelling Units, Missing Middle housing, and parking minimums.
- Strategies to preserve affordability and prevent displacement of low- and moderate-income housing and small businesses.
- Wealth-building strategies for low- and moderate-income households, including shared equity homeownership and Accessory Dwelling Units.
- Approaches for integrating housing and transportation investments.
Deliverables:
- Training on best practices for advocating to municipal leaders
- A policy scan of current local zoning and housing policies
- Development of national case studies on relevant zoning and housing policies
- One-page advocacy scripts for promoting equitable development at various events, including local planning meetings and municipal gatherings
- Coaching and support for writing op-eds on housing and zoning topics
Level of Commitment:
- Collaboration with SGA on a scope for a technical assistance project
- Regular meetings with SGA staff to provide background information, discuss project progress and share feedback
- Occasional review of materials prepared by SGA staff
- Travel to Smart Growth America’s Equity Summit to attend the conference and participate in a small group workshop for TA partners. All travel will be funded by the overall project.
If you are interested in learning more about this free technical assistance opportunity, feel free to reach out to SGA staff at [email protected].
Organizations can express official interest in the program via the form below (also available at this link).
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on November 20, 2024.
Learn more about Smart Growth America’s past work to advance equitable development in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Equitable Development Technical Assistance Program 2023)
Westside Working Group Recommendations: Equitable Zoning Reform and Affordable Housing in MA (Report)
Over two months in 2023, Smart Growth America and Westside Legends convened the Westside Working Group as part of our technical assistance program to advance equitable zoning reform and affordable housing development in Massachusetts. The Westside Working Group consisted of community members, civic leaders, and business leaders to develop recommendations to support affordable housing preservation and creation, economic development for BIPOC organizations, and wealth generation and preservation for BIPOC residents of the Westside neighborhood in Pittsfield.
Supporting smart growth in Pittsfield and Somerville, MA (May 2024)
Last fall, SGA concluded a technical assistance partnership with two Massachusetts community organizations, CultureHouse in Somerville and Westside Legends in Pittsfield. The Massachusetts Technical Assistance programming included three distinct phases of support for the two community organizations in their efforts to advance affordable housing production and economic development opportunities in their respective communities.
Advancing Equitable Development in Massachusetts (November 2023)
Thanks to generous funding from The Barr Foundation, over the last several months, SGA has provided technical assistance to two Massachusetts-based community organizations: Westside Legends of Pittsfield, MA, and CultureHouse of Somerville, MA. These technical assistance partnerships with these two community organizations are oriented around the goal of advancing equitable zoning reform and affordable housing development.
New Zoning Reform Technical Assistance Program in Massachusetts (July 2023)
Smart Growth America is launching a new technical assistance (TA) program to support equitable development and housing attainability in Massachusetts thanks to generous funding from The Barr Foundation. The program is designed to provide community-based organizations with the skills and tools to advance sustainable, equitable development and affordable housing and to support generational wealth creation for Black and Brown communities and LGTBQIA+ populations through zoning reform.
Opportunity Zones Academy 2019
Six Massachusetts communities kick off first-ever academy on Opportunity Zones (July 2019)
The 2019 Massachusetts Opportunity Zone Academy kicked off last Sunday with four teams from Massachusetts convening in Washington, DC to learn and strategize about how to use the new federal Opportunity Zone tax incentive to spur private, triple-bottom-line development and investment in their communities.
Meet the inaugural class of LOCUS’ Massachusetts Opportunity Zones Academy (June 2019)
How can cities and towns maximize the positive impact of their Opportunity Zones? The answer is different for every community, and that’s why LOCUS and Smart Growth America are offering tailored technical assistance to six Massachusetts communities in the first-of-its-kind Opportunity Zones Academy.
Get schooled with the Massachusetts Opportunity Zones Academy (April 2019)
Today, LOCUS and Smart Growth America are launching the 2019 Massachusetts Opportunity Zones Academy, a five-month technical assistance program, with the goal of building the capacity of three to five Massachusetts communities to leverage their designation as Opportunity Zones.