Governor
Patrick Announces $7.4 MIL in MA Cultural
Facilities Fund Grants
11-17-11
Boylston, MA –
Governor Deval Patrick today announced
$7.4 million in grants from the
Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund
(CFF) to support building projects for
nonprofit arts, heritage, and science
organizations across the Commonwealth.
The new CFF investment will support
repairs, improvements, and expansions for
54 cultural organizations that plan to
invest nearly $275 million in their
projects. Grants will range from $14,000
to $250,000. A full list of new grants
can be found online.
“These grants will create new jobs
in arts, culture, and tourism -- three
pillars of our state’s creative
economy,” said Governor Patrick.
“These investments will support our
cultural organizations and allow them to
serve the public with quality programs
that will enrich our communities for
generations to come.”
CFF fuels a nonprofit creative sector
that employs 27,100 people, spends $2.1
billion annually, and generates another
$2.5 billion of economic activity across
Massachusetts, according to a recent study by the
New England Foundation for the Arts.
Organizations that received past CFF
grants are spending more than $800
million on their building projects, and
providing more than 11,000 building jobs,
including architects, engineers,
contractors, and construction workers.
They also plan to add more than 1,150 new
permanent jobs after their capital
projects are complete. CFF grants have
also helped restore many of our nation’s
most historic landmarks and treasures,
which in turn have brought more cultural
tourists to Massachusetts. In 2008 and
2009, more than 14 million people visited
organizations receiving these grants;
nearly one third came from out-of-state.
State Senator Stephen Brewer of Barre
spoke about the value of CFF investments
for one of those organizations in his
Central Mass. district. “Old
Sturbridge Village has been a staple in
the community for many years and is a
driving force for visitors to the area,”
said Brewer, who chairs the Senate Ways
& Means Committee.
“I applaud the Village for its hard
work and the many improvements they have
already made to make the visitor
experience one to remember. The
infrastructure improvements that will be
made possible by this grant will ensure
that the buildings, roads, and structures
here will be preserved for generations of
visitors to come.” “We thank
the Governor for his commitment to
investing in our nonprofit cultural
sector through CFF,” said Anita
Walker, MCC Executive Director.
“We are also grateful to Senator
Brewer and his colleagues in the
Legislature for providing the authority
for these investments. Support for this
program is strong because it is real
economic stimulus for a sector that adds
so much to our quality of life.”
“From Cape Cod to the Berkshires,
investing in the Commonwealth’s
cultural institutions makes economic
sense,” said MassDevelopment
President and CEO Marty Jones. “Working
to maintain and improve these facilities
will continue to draw visitors to
Massachusetts and provide creative
outlets and activities for residents. I
thank Governor Patrick the Legislature
for their support of this program;
MassDevelopment is pleased to partner
with the Cultural Council on issuing
these grants.”
About
MCC: The Massachusetts
Cultural Council is a state agency
supporting the arts, humanities, and
sciences to improve the quality of life
in Massachusetts and its communities. The
MCC pursues this mission through of
grants, services, and advocacy for
nonprofit cultural organizations,
schools, communities, and artists. Learn
more at www.massculturalcouncil.org.
About MassDevelopment:
MassDevelopment, the state’s finance
and development authority, works with
businesses, nonprofits, and local, state,
and federal officials and agencies to
create jobs, increase the number of
housing units, eliminate blight, and
address the overarching challenges that
limit economic growth, such as
transportation, energy, and other
infrastructure deficiencies. Learn more
at www.massdevelopment.com.
