PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Town of Stoughton Awarded a $586,141 Grant for Downtown

Storefront and Sign Improvement Program
On July 26th Governor Baker awarded a Community Development Block Grant to the Town of
Stoughton in the amount of $586,141 to fund a Downtown Storefront and Sign Improvement
Program. The Community Development Block Grant Program is a Federal Program run by the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Grants are administered by the
Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) at the State level.

The grant will provide funding for four full Sign and Façade Projects and ten Sign Only Projects
(including signage lighting and awnings). The four full projects will be funded by Deferred
Payment Loans at 0% interest in an amount equal to 75% of the actual cost of eligible
improvements. The maximum loan amount will be $75,000. If the property is not sold or title
transferred within 10 years, the Deferred Payment Loan is forgiven. The Sign Only projects will
be funded by grants up to $5,000.00 per project. Program guidelines are available on the Town
of Stoughton’s website on the Economic Development page.

Three property owners have already received conceptual architectural sketches for their
facades by utilizing a previous Economic Development Fund Grant that the Economic
Development Office was able to obtain. This same grant allowed the Economic Development
Director to work with the Planning Department to produce Downtown Storefront Improvement
Design Guidelines that the Planning Board endorsed.

Multiple downtown property owners have already submitted expressions of interest to

participate in the program. Full applications will be available on the Town website for all
interested Downtown commercial property owners once the program begins; most likely in
early October. Business owners will need the permission of the property owner in order to
participate in the program. Based on strict criteria, a review committee will determine which
projects are eligible to move forward.

The entire community can take credit for the success of this grant application. In May of 2017,
Town Meeting voted to fund a consultant that worked with the Economic Development
Director to develop a competitive application; the Stoughton Redevelopment Authority funded
a Downtown building condition survey that was a requirement of the grant application;
residents and small business owners attended Community Development Strategy meetings and
many town departments provided vital information. The Board of Selectmen voted to approve
the Community Development Strategy as well as the application itself. Senator Timilty,
Representative Kafka and Representative Galvin submitted a joint letter of support to the
Department of Housing and Community Development. The preparation of the application was
truly a team effort.

The Storefront and Sign Improvement Program will result in noticeable physical improvements
to Downtown properties that the community can point to with pride.

Contact Pamela McCarthy, Economic Development Director at 781-341-1300 x9265 or

pmccarthy@stoughton-ma.gov if you have any questions or are interested in taking part in the
program.

Pamela McCarthy
Town of Stoughton
10 Pearl Street
Stoughton, MA 02072
(781) 341-1300 Ext. 9265
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