LYNN, MA – At a Seaport Economic Council meeting in Lynn this week, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito announced approximately $1.8 million in grants for seven projects. The grant funding will support a range of initiatives including the design of upgrades to coastal infrastructure, the development of a harbor management plan, and funding to support commuter ferry facility maintenance.
The Town of Scituate received the largest of the awards with $1 million heading their way to complete Phase 2 of their Cole Parkway Marina Rehabilitation. This phase of the project includes replacing the existing deteriorating timber floating dock, the pump-out system, the potable water distribution system, and the electrical distribution system. In Phase 1 of the project, new steel mooring piles and an 80’ ADA compliant gangway were installed. The steel mooring piles will also be reused to moor the new floats.
“The Town is pleased to receive this grant from the Seaport Economic Council to help us continue to upgrade our marina facilities and make them more resilient in the face of a changing climate,” said Town Administrator Jim Boudreau. “Congratulations to Harbormaster Stephen Mone and his staff on a successful grant application.”
Harbormaster Mone noted that the marina provides slips and support services for 300 recreational boaters, as well as docking facilities for public safety agencies including: the Coast Guard, State Environmental Police, local police and fire, and the Harbormaster Department.
“The project will replace the existing deteriorating wood floating docking system with a new ‘All Weather’ float system which will allow for the marina to continue to be an economic benefit to the adjacent business,” said Harbormaster Mone. “This goal will increase the number of transient slips, provide safer access for patrons of the launch services, people with disabilities, recreational boaters and public safety agencies. I’d like to thank our entire legislative delegation for their support of this project.”
“This funding is a major step forward in Scituate’s efforts to ensure their coastal business districts are able to succeed in the decades to come,” said State Senator Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth). “I am proud to work with my colleagues on the state level to help aid the town in its pursuit to provide a climate resilient and thriving community for its residents.”
"Our port in Scituate Harbor has always been the lifeblood of the Town's local economy," said State Representative Patrick Kearney (D-Scituate). "Receiving the largest grant in this statewide municipal program to revitalize Scituate Marina is a tribute to the hard work of local partners and state officials and brings the project that much closer to a timely completion."
"This grant supporting the Cole Parkway Marina Rehabilitation is a welcome and well-deserved investment in Scituate's economic vitality," added Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull). "I look forward to the continued prioritization of coastal resilience as this important project comes to fruition."
In 2018, the Town of Scituate’s Climate Vulnerability and Action Plan, titled Building a Resilient Scituate, was approved with the top climate action priority being to “address the vulnerability of coastal business districts.” Shortly thereafter, the Town pursued grant funding to further study this issue with the intent of creating an overall conceptual plan and strategic
resiliency action plan for the Scituate Harbor coastal business district. Since that time, the Town has pursued various avenues to carry-out the vision in the report.
The Seaport Economic Council serves all 78 of the Commonwealth’s coastal communities. The Council awards grant funding to municipalities and other entities in support of projects that promote job creation and economic growth, transformative public-private partnerships, educational opportunities for young people, local economic development planning efforts, coastal infrastructure improvements, and the planning and permitting of saltwater dredging. With this latest round of grants, the Seaport Economic Council has invested approximately $65.8 million through 145 grants in 53 coastal communities since 2015.