WHATELY, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — The Town of Whately has received a quarter of a million dollars in support over the past week. $30,000 has been awarded from the Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office to update the town’s Hazard Mitigation Plan and $225,000 from the MassDOT Unpaved Roads Program to purchase an essential piece of equipment, a new front loader.
From the Town of Whately:
Whately Secures Major Funding for Community Improvements
Whately is celebrating a significant week for local investment. These achievements mean the Town will be able to take some needed steps without having to use local funds. Community Development Administrator Caroline Gurek, who handled these successful grant applications, will be assisting with their implementation as well.
The Town has been awarded $30,000 from the Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office to update our Hazard Mitigation Plan, strengthening our ability to prepare for and respond to natural disasters. This award is part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s recent announcement of $904,985 in Municipal and Tribal Technical Assistance (MTTA) grants to help communities advance infrastructure projects and compete for federal funding. Twenty-one communities across Massachusetts received support, including fourteen rural towns. The MTTA program—created through Chapter 214 of the Acts of 2024—helps municipalities build capacity, move key projects forward, and better position themselves for federal dollars.
In addition to the MTTA award, Whately will receive $225,000 from the MassDOT Unpaved Roads Program to purchase a new front loader, an essential piece of equipment that will improve maintenance and safety on our rural roadways.
Together, these awards total a quarter of a million dollars in support for projects that would have been difficult to complete without outside funding. The Town is deeply grateful for the Commonwealth’s continued partnership and investment in our community.
Whately Town Administrator S. Peter Kane shared: “It’s more important than ever for municipalities to prepare for natural disasters to keep residents safe and support long-term community resilience. Without this grant funding, the Town of Whately would have struggled to update its Hazard Mitigation Plan, leaving residents more vulnerable to future disasters. We are grateful for the Commonwealth’s support of this project and the opportunity it provides to safeguard our community.”
Highway Superintendent Garrett Barry added: “The Town of Whately is very excited to hear the news that we were awarded the grant for the Unpaved Roads Equipment Purchase Program. This is such a big deal for small communities like Whately. The $225,000 will go toward the purchase of a new front-end loader.”
These awards represent meaningful progress toward keeping Whately safe, well-maintained, and ready for the future.