[author: Jacob Tosti, Summer Assocate/Law Student*]

Last month, a new public space named “The Corner Spot” opened in downtown Ashland, Massachusetts, to considerable fanfare. Lauded as a “downtown destination“, the Corner Spot is essentially a community gathering space that features amenities such as porch swings, a café seating area, a book swap spot, a kids play area, and a pop-up store front intended for new businesses. The space will also be hosting a variety of family-friendly events throughout the summer, including board game nights and open mic music sessions. The Corner Spot is a great example of public-private cooperation and community involvement leading to neighborhood revitalization.

Located on a lot that was slated for affordable housing but failed to attract a developer, the Corner Spot owes its existence in part to MassDevelopment’s “Commonwealth Places” program, which provided a $25,000 grant to fund the Spot’s construction. The program, described as a “creative funding mechanism,” for “place-based community-driven projects” requires community revitalization project sponsors to set a crowdfunding goal for their project. If the goal is met within sixty days, MassDevelopment (a governmental economic development authority established in 1998) provides a grant matching the goal amount dollar-for-dollar. It is a testament to the community spirit shared by Ashland residents and businesses that they not only met the $25,000 crowdfunding goal, but also exceeded it, contributing over $38,000 toward the Corner Spot project.

Blog-readers interested in participating in the Commonwealth Places program may wish to visit the MassDevelopment website, which features a list of ongoing and completed community projects and information relating to applications for new projects.  Congratulations to the residents of Ashland for taking the initiative to improve their community.