Economic & Community Development

Thatcher's Row Downtown                         

** NEW MICROENTERPRISE ASSISTANCE GRANT **

Applications are available for grant assistance to for-profit microenterprises that have been affected negatively by COVID-19. The following link contains more information, as well as the instructions and the application to print out and complete.  

                                     Microenterprise Grant App & Instructions

Applications can also be picked up outside the door of the OECD department at the Town Hall Annex , 20 Centre St., 3rd Floor.  The grants will remain available until all funds have been expended.

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Welcome to the Town of Middleborough’s Office of Economic and Community Development.

Inception 

The Middleborough Office of Economic and Community Development (OECD) was created by the Town’s Board of Selectmen in September of 1998. At its inception, the Department was funded through the U.S. HUD Community Development Block Grant program and was responsible for obtaining, implementing and administering grant projects for Town affordable housing, economic and community development efforts.

Role of the OECD

The role of OECD has expanded over the years and the department is now a permanent part of the municipality’s infrastructure. OECD plans and implements the Town’s economic development / revitalization goals and community development and affordable housing initiatives and services. It continues to obtain and administer CDBG, State and non-profit grants and their projects.

Programs & Services

Programs and services of the Office of Economic and Community Development therefore fall into two major areas:

Economic Development

The OECD provides a range of support in promoting economic development opportunities and addressing needs of existing businesses this includes:

  • Business Advocacy
  • Business Attraction and Retention
  • Business Related Workshops
  • Commercial District Revitalization
  • Connecting Developers and Property Owners
  • Grants Researching / Writing
  • Infrastructure Improvements
  • Job Fairs
  • Retail Development
  • Tracking Available Commercial Space

Housing & Community Development

Since 1998, the OECD has received more than $8 million dollars in economic and community development grant funds from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development. These funds have been used to improve local infrastructure, support housing rehabilitation, create affordable housing units, and provide matching funds for economic development projects within the Middleborough downtown district.

Economic Sustainability

Housing and community development go hand in hand with economic sustainability. In addition to affordable housing initiatives and related CDBG infrastructure improvement projects, the OECD has responsibility for supporting overall economic development in the Town working collaboratively with the Town Manager’s office and other Town departments.

Collaborating with Local Businesses

The OECD works collaboratively with local business and economic development groups such as:

More Information

Please feel free to stop by our office at:
20 Centre Street
Third floor
Middleborough, MA 02346

You can also email Janis K. Akerstrom or call 508-946-2402.