New Bedford mayor announces program to ‘energize businesses and neighborhoods’

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell announced Tuesday a new program to revive vacant properties in the city.

The mayor’s office said the Abandoned Property Rehabilitation Program will use American Rescue Plan Act funds to find productive use for those vacant buildings.

“Revitalizing underutilized properties can energize businesses and neighborhoods alike,” Mayor Jon Mitchell said. “This program will give developers and businesses the support they need to move stalled projects forward.”

Those projects must have a minimum total costs of $750,000, and will be funded up to 50% by the program.

Funded activities will also need to begin within one year of the grant award. Chain stores and franchises will not qualify, said the mayor’s office.

The program defines vacant properties as those that are not legally occupied or unoccupied for at least six months.