Want to improve Milton? Community Preservation Committee accepting eligibility applications through June 1

June 1 deadline for Community Preservation eligibility applicants

The Community Preservation Committee is now accepting eligibility applications for grant funding opportunities for the betterment of Milton in 2024! The 9-member Committee, comprised of Milton residents specializing in Historic Preservation, Open Space/Recreation and Affordable Housing, recently approved over $1,663,000 in taxpayer dollars for 11 improvement projects involving Milton’s parks, gardens, historic buildings, athletic fields and affordable housing endeavors.

The funds stem from the Community Preservation Act, adopted by Milton citizens in July of 2020, and will be presented at the May 2023 Town Meeting for final authorization.

Applications for the second round of CPA funding are due by June 1, 2023.

The two-tiered application process begins with an eligibility proposal (form accessible here) followed by an invitation to submit a full proposal by November 1st to those who qualify. In accordance with the Community Preservation Act of 2000, proposals must fit into three categories: open space/recreation, historic preservation, and affordable housing with a minimum of 10% allocated to each category. See here for further details on qualifications. Town departments, non-profits, community groups, and other public entities are eligible to apply. The Warrant Committee has approved the 2023 projects and will be recommending the docket to Town Meeting in May. It is projected that approximately $1 million will be available in the second round.

Community Preservation funds come from a combination of a 1.0% surcharge on Milton property taxes matched by the state’s Community Preservation Trust Fund. There are now 194 municipalities in Massachusetts that have adopted the CPA with 6,700 projects funded (see samples here).

Subject to the requirements of M.G.L. c. 44B, no expenditures shall be made from the Community Preservation Fund without first receiving a recommendation from the Community Preservation Committee and an appropriation from Town Meeting.