State Representative Joseph F. Wagner joined Mayor Richard Kos in the announcement of two state grants for Chicopee properties as part of the Site Readiness Program. The Westover Metropolitan Development Corporation will receive $255,200 for Air Park South to fund due diligence, master planning, and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection permitting for a new industrial park at Westover. Westmass Area Development will receive $70,000 for master planning focused on advancing the build-out of the Chicopee River Business Park.

“The Site Readiness Program is designed to facilitate development at the local level by providing targeted resources for sites with great potential, such as these Chicopee projects,” said Representative Joseph Wagner, chairman of the legislature’s economic development committee. “Investment in these local site preparedness projects supports coordinated state and local efforts to promote transformative land usage and drive business growth. I appreciate the consideration made by the Baker-Polito Administration for these Chicopee projects. ” 

“These monies will help in our continued effort to spur economic development in the City of Chicopee,” said Mayor Kos. “I thank Governor Baker, Lieutenant Governor Polito, and the entire Chicopee legislative delegation for their support in advancing our agenda to attract new opportunities for the municipality.”  

The Site Readiness Program was established as part of the 2016 economic development bill, which Representative Wagner co-authored. The program, capitalized through a $15 million authorization, is designed to promote site assembly, site assessment, pre-development permitting and other pre-development and marketing activities in an effort to prepare sites for commercial, industrial, or mixed-use development. The program is administered by MassDevelopment in conjunction with the Baker Administration.

In total, 12 projects received awards today across the state totaling approximately $2.5 million.

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