The Gov. Charlie Baker Administration has awarded $1.1 million to Central Massachusetts municipalities and nonprofits as part of a new Regional Pilot Project Grant Program aimed at helping bolster economic recovery by supporting uniquely regional challenges, according to a Thursday announcement.
Nine grants were awarded to Central Massachusetts, ranging from $36,750 awarded to the 495/MetroWest Corridor Partnership, Inc. to $250,000 awarded for the Town of Ashland.
Each project varies widely. The Town of Webster, for example, received $40,000 to create a Webster/Dudley Entrepreneur Support Micro-Grant program to provide small funding opportunities to between six and 10 local entrepreneurs.
The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, in turn, received $180,000 to support an incubator and accelerator ecosystem named the Massachusetts Startup Consortium, aimed at supporting collaborative regional marketing, incubator space and other programs for the business community.