In a significant move to shore up economic opportunity across Massachusetts, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has rolled out a hefty $15 million in grants, distributing the funds to 67 non-profit organizations. According to a press release from the governor's office, these grants come via the Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Program (CERP), which targets areas hit hardest by poverty and the criminal justice system.
“Our administration is committed to making Massachusetts a state where everyone has access to economic opportunity,” Governor Maura Healey announced. In the statement obtained by the Massachusetts Government website, she added that the CERP is reshaping our communities by providing resources for programs that strengthen our communities through job training, small business support, housing stability, and more. Lieutenant Governor Driscoll underscored the program’s role in surmounting significant barriers to economic prosperity in various communities throughout the state.
These grants are intended to bolster a range of endeavors, from job training and entrepreneur support to housing and community health services. Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao highlighted the program’s alignment with Massachusetts’ strategic focus on building an equitable economy. “In Massachusetts, we are building an equitable economy that benefits everyone,” Hao shared.
Of the 67 organizations sinking their teeth into these funds, 37 are stationed in Gateway Cities, which are urban centers striving for economic revitalization. Notably, 33 of the recipients have self-identified as Minority Business Enterprises. And steering many of these organizations, nearly half boast leadership composed of individuals formerly tangled up in the criminal justice system. This suite of investments spans a spate of key areas that include workforce development, small business advancement, and high school dropout prevention, among others.
The CERP, forged in 2020, introduced a seven-member Community Empowerment Board, peppered with individuals from demographics traditionally benched on the sidelines of economic prosperity, to lay out fair criteria and application processes.
