State Sen. John Velis talks to the crowd at Old San Juan Bakery about the recent state grants awarded to Holyoke businesses and agencies during an Oct. 2 press conference.
Reminder Publishing photo by Tyler Garnet
HOLYOKE — Small business owners gathered at Old San Juan Bakery on Oct. 2 to learn about the state funding they will receive to bolster their operations.
The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently announced the fiscal year 2027 Community One Stop for Growth awards, which will benefit Holyoke businesses, agencies and the city itself. In total, these entities will receive 10 grants totaling $1.64 million as part of more than $326 million in grants across the state.
Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia, state Sen. John Velis and state Rep. Pat Duffy joined the press conference to talk about the funding.
Garcia said the funding will support housing, economic development, downtown revitalization, and continued growth of local businesses, helping create conditions for more investment, jobs, and housing in Holyoke.
The Newton Street Development project will receive $400,000 to support planning and 100% design and engineering for utility and roadway modernization of an underutilized two-block street in Holyoke’s urban renewal area. The infrastructure improvements will support rehabilitation of owner-occupied and rental units and multi-family new construction on vacant lots.
The Holyoke Business Improvement District will receive $55,000 in grant funding to support technical assistance for creating a Business Improvement District.
A Good Mix, meanwhile, will get $41,448 to support expansion. The downtown business, located at 355 High St., will use the grant funding to support storefront upgrades and interior improvements to create more space for customers to gather. The expansion is expected to increase foot traffic, support small business growth, and contribute to a more active and welcoming downtown environment.
Cornucopia Market Place, located at 384 Dwight St., is receiving $100,000 for the construction of a commercial kitchen, Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility improvements and threshold and railing upgrades. The expanded market will strengthen local food systems, support local farmers and food entrepreneurs, increase food literacy through cooking classes and provide new jobs in the community.
El Punto Paper City will earn $99,880 to support an ADA-compliant restroom, flooring and accessibility upgrades, improved indoor-outdoor access and a full build-out of unfinished lower-level coworking space, including concrete floors, walls, lighting and finishes. The completed project will support entrepreneurs, artists, remote workers and community events while increasing downtown activity and economic vitality, according to the business.
Holyoke Health Center is receiving $500,000 to support a window project to redevelop downtown historic buildings into a health and workforce development corridor.
Old San Juan Bakery, where the event took place, will get $55,237 to support interior partition walls, a service counter, an exterior serving window, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing upgrades and accessibility improvements. The expansion will include a new ice cream operation, expected to increase customer traffic, create jobs, extend visitor stays and strengthen economic activity along the High Street corridor.
OneHolyoke CDC will earn $75,000 to support design, engineering and permitting for five contiguous parcels in the Flats neighborhood, creating a shovel-ready site for 30 units of high-density family housing.
Urbanist Development will receive $65,000 to support ADA restroom upgrades, an accessible interior ramp, a new operable storefront opening, door systems and associated building improvements. These investments will enable a new food and beverage tenant to utilize the space, increase pedestrian activity and strengthen the ongoing revitalization of downtown Holyoke.
Additionally, WayFinders will get $250,000 for 378 High St. Rehabilitation. The grant funding will support architecture and engineering work to redevelop a historic, vacant downtown office building into 12 affordable housing units and 3,000 commercial square feet.
Garcia said these announcements follow years of planning, while Duffy said the grant money will bring important improvements to the downtown area.
“This classic downtown strip is going to stay a classic downtown strip,” Duffy stated. “That’s why we all love it. High Street to Maple Street. These are our main thoroughfares.”
Velis said it’s great to see what happens when the federal, state and local governments work together.
“The most important word in government today, period, end of story, full stop, is collaboration,” Velis said. “If people are not working together at every level, stuff does not get done.”
Garcia thanked the Healey-Driscoll Administration for the funding.
