BOSTON — Today, the Executive Office of Economic Development and MassDevelopment joined state and local officials in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood to announce $6,519,000 in awards from the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund to support the environmental assessment and cleanup of 20 contaminated sites across Massachusetts for redevelopment. Once complete, the projects are expected to redevelop a combined total of 21.16 acres, unlock more than 950,000 square feet of new development, and create or preserve more than 700 housing units.

Interim Economic Development Secretary Ashley Stolba made today’s announcement at the Talbot Bernard Senior Homes, a previous award recipient of a grant through the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund. The organization that manages the Talbot Bernard Senior Homes, Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation (NDC), is receiving $850,000 in awards from this round of the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund to support the development of 42 units of affordable housing across two sites in Dorchester.

“The Brownfields Redevelopment Fund helps local partners meet their economic development goals by bringing blighted or vacant sites back into productive use for housing and commercial development,” said Interim Economic Development Secretary Ashley Stolba, who serves as chair of MassDevelopment’s Board of Directors. “This is an important state resource for cleaning up contaminated properties to benefit our residents and communities now and into the future.”

“MassDevelopment is proud to administer the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund on behalf of the Commonwealth and partner closely with municipalities, community development corporations, and other nonprofit organizations as they work to revitalize challenging properties in their communities,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Navjeet Bal. “Today’s awards will clear the way for hundreds of new housing units, new commercial spaces, and more, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact these projects bring for families, seniors, and neighborhoods across Massachusetts. We are grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and our partners in the legislature for their support of this key program.”

MassDevelopment oversees the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund, which was created in 1998 to transform contaminated and underused industrial or commercial properties by funding or financing their environmental assessment and remediation towards redevelopment.

Today’s awards were provided as rolling round grants, which are available year-round on a case-by-case basis to eligible community development corporations, nonprofit organizations, and municipalities seeking environmental assessment or remediation of sites with active projects. MassDevelopment’s website features a Notice of Funding Availability with details on how to apply for this category of assistance.

“The Talbot Bernard Senior Housing and Homes community, where today’s event was held, demonstrates the important role the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund has played over the past 25-plus years in helping organizations like ours unlock key parcels for housing,” said Gail Latimore, Executive Director of the Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation. “We are glad to be receiving $850,000 in awards today to remediate two additional sites and bring 42 new affordable apartments to our corner of Dorchester.”

“Thank you to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for prioritizing these important investments in creating housing. I am proud to support the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund grant in the state budget as I know the impact these grants make in our communities,” said Senator Nick Collins, First Suffolk. “Congratulations to the recipients. Your work is a vital step toward transforming underused properties into vibrant, sustainable spaces that benefit communities and the environment. We look forward to seeing the impact of your efforts.”

“I am thankful to the Governor and her team for continuing to build more affordable housing. The redevelopment of sites creates healthier and more vibrant communities while expanding opportunities for job creation,” said Representative Russell Holmes, 6^th Suffolk.

Read the entire press release here.