$197,500 in grants awarded to Charlestown community

Mayor Martin J. Walsh, in collaboration with the Charlestown Community Impact Fund, today announced the approval of $197,500 in grant awards for 38 nonprofits and organizations that serve the Charlestown community. Awards support projects spanning the areas of arts and culture, community enrichment activities and events, education, youth sports, veterans, after-school activities, mentoring, job training, substance abuse and recovery, senior programming, environmental and community gardening, and health and wellness.

The Charlestown Community Impact Fund was created as a result of the Surrounding Community Agreement reached between Mayor Walsh and Wynn Resorts. As part of this agreement, Wynn has made a one-time payment of $1 million designated for local Charlestown nonprofits and community organizations. Additionally, Wynn Casino will pay a Community Impact Fee of $2 million annually once the casino opens, as long as the casino is operating.

"These grants are why I fought to negotiate the largest community benefit Boston could obtain from the Wynn Casino. My priority has always been to preserve and protect the quality of life in Charlestown, and these grant awards do just that, helping everyone from students to older residents to veterans gain increased services and opportunities," said Mayor Walsh. "The Charlestown Community Impact Fund represents our continued work on behalf of the people of Charlestown."

In 2017, the Charlestown Community Impact Fund awarded 80 mini-grants totaling $376,500 to 50 nonprofits and organizations. The Managing Committee has been committed to awarding mini-grants in the range of $1,000 - $10,000 to ensure fairness, as well as to ensure the money is distributed to as many eligible groups as possible, and that the money in the fund is available to the community until the casino opens.

"We'll use this grant to create a veteran outreach program in Charlestown, knocking on doors in the community to create a registry of veterans in Charlestown, ensuring veterans have access to the services they need and deserve. In addition, we'll use the grant to create an online resource for Charlestown veterans," said Joe Zuffante, President of the Board of Directors of the Friends of Memorial Hall. "These grants make a big, lasting difference to Charlestown residents, and I thank Mayor Walsh and our partners for ensuring these funds go to benefit Charlestown."

"I want to thank Mayor Walsh and his administration for their work in dispersing these mitigation funds to the Charlestown community," said Representative Dan Ryan. "There is a lot of development going on in and around our town. These funds go a long way toward helping our nonprofits meet their mission and continue to make Charlestown a place where people want to live, work and play."

"I am excited about the latest round for the Charlestown Community Impact Fund Grants. These grants will tremendously help to support youth sports, elderly services, substance abuse, community groups and local non-profits," said City Councilor Sal LaMattina. "I also would like to commend Mayor Walsh for making sure the mitigation funds stay in Charlestown."

The seven members of the Managing Committee of the Charlestown Community Impact Fund are responsible for distribution of the funds. The committee is made up of City of Boston staff and members of Charlestown's elected delegation. The Fund awards mini-grants twice per year in the spring and the fall.

The Charlestown Community Impact Fund Managing Committee voted at its October 12, 2017 meeting to approve the fall mini-grant awards. More information regarding the Charlestown Community Impact Fund can be found at boston.gov/charlestown-fund.