Massachusetts Launches $209 Million Green Communitites Initiative

Through the new Massachusetts Green Communities™ initiative, MassHousing and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) are working with the nonprofit Enterprise Foundation to build 1,000 green affordable homes throughout the state. The Enterprise Foundation will provide up to $75 million in private equity to developers, from the sale of low-income housing tax credits, and $500,000 in grants and loans for the predevelopment, acquisition, and construction of projects that meet green building criteria. In addition, MassHousing will provide $125 million in mortgage financing, and MTC will offer $8.5 million toward the purchase of renewable energy systems, including solar panels, wind turbines, small hydropower systems, and fuel cells. “Combining affordable housing and environmentally friendly smart growth isn’t just about dollars and cents,” said Governor Mitt Romney, “it’s about promoting common sense.” For details on Massachusetts Green Communities, visit www.greencommunitiesonline.org/massachusetts/. For more information on the Enterprise Foundation and greening affordable housing, see

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Vol. 14, No. 3.