Two housing projects in Montague and one in Greenfield have been awarded a combined $1.82 million from the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities’ Neighborhood Stabilization Program, bringing new homeownership opportunities to the two communities in the next few years.
Montague and Greenfield were the only two municipalities in Franklin County to be included in this round of grants, totaling more than $8 million to 10 community-based organizations and municipalities that aim to redevelop or rehabilitate 49 affordable homes. The grant program supports the transformation of vacant, abandoned and blighted properties into homes for Massachusetts families.
In Montague, Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity received $1.068 million for permitting and construction of six housing units on First Street in Turners Falls, and $250,000 was awarded to Rural Development Inc. (RDI) for the demolition of a vacant and condemned home at 10 Unity St., followed by the installation of a modular single-family home.
In Greenfield, Oxbow Design Build Cooperative was awarded $500,000 to redevelop a lot at 187 Hope St. into a duplex. The land will be sold to the Franklin County Community Land Trust to ensure affordability.
“We are taking action to create more homes, lower costs and make sure people can afford to live in Massachusetts,” Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement. “These investments will turn vacant, abandoned properties into homes for families, expanding homeownership opportunities and strengthening neighborhoods across Massachusetts.”
Montague
In the largest grant to Franklin County, Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity was given $1.068 million for the First Street housing development, giving this housing initiative the necessary boost to get the construction of six affordable homes back on track.
The town of Montague and Habitat for Humanity have been partners in this project since the town awarded the request for proposals to the nonprofit in 2023. However, soil contamination at the First Street lot delayed the project as the soil contents required abatement before further development could begin.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) stepped in to clean up the site in July 2025, removing a $250,000 project from the town’s budget. The town was responsible for hiring a licensed site professional for $40,000.
Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Megan McDonough explained that the next year will be a preparation period before construction will officially begin.
“Now that we have the funding lined up, the next step for us is to go through the zoning permitting process,” McDonough said. “There will be a site plan review process that we need to do with the town and finish up the construction documents so that we can get ready to build in the coming year.”
McDonough explained that homes from Habitat for Humanity are sold to people living at or below the 60% area median income threshold, and to occupy one of these six homes in Montague, people will need to apply. In the coming months, information sessions for prospective homeowners will be available to offer information on eligibility and the application process.
“I’m pleased that our partners at the state, and particularly the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, are continuing to choose to invest in Montague,” Town Administrator Walter Ramsey said about the grant for the First Street project. “I think Montague, we have the right combination of demonstrated need, good planning partnership and a strong reputation for successful project execution.”
Up the hill from the First Street lot is 10 Unity St. where Rural Development Inc. will be working to offer another homeownership opportunity, thanks to a $250,000 boost from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.
This project also involves town collaboration, Ramsey explained, as Montague’s Board of Health went through the Attorney General’s Office to get the home at 10 Unity St. into receivership due to health code violations. Rural Development Inc. was selected as the receiver by the AG’s office.
Ramsey said that a previous grant to support the redevelopment of this property fell through, but an application for funding through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program proved to be successful.
“I’m very pleased that we were able to pivot, find a different funding source and get the funding secured to make it happen,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming.”
RDI Executive Director Gina Govoni explained that the plan will be to make this property available as a single-unit, modular home available for someone living at or below 80% the area median income. This is the second property RDI has as part of its Rural Homes Project, a program that brings vacant properties back to the market through receivership.
Govoni said the $250,000 grant will help subsidize the cost of construction, and any remaining costs incurred by RDI are expected to be paid off from the sale to a future homeowner.
“We’re happy that the town was able to work with us on that,” Govoni said about the receivership process, “and generally how the town has just been really supportive of the work that we’re doing.”
Greenfield
Oxbow Design Build Cooperative is the recipient of a $500,000 grant to help develop a duplex at 187 Hope St. Ben Bowman, sustainable development coordinator with Oxbow Design Build Cooperative, said this was the funding push needed to get the project going.
“We’re so excited that we were awarded the full amount we requested,” Bowman said.
The goal is to develop a duplex for two future homeowners on land that will follow a similar affordability model to that of Habitat for Humanity properties, Bowman explained. According to the grant description, this project is in partnership with the city of Greenfield, which previously allocated Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding to the project, Bowman added.
Another part of this development will be the land transfer to the Franklin County Community Land Trust for the duplex, which will help keep the property affordable.
While Bowman said a timeline is still up in the air for when construction will finish and occupancy will begin, he said the grant from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities has given the project “legs” to push forward.
