About the Grants Development and External Funds Department
The Grants Development and External Funds Department helps City departments find and apply for federal, state, and private grants. These grants provide financial and technical support for a broad range of municipal projects, programs, and initiatives, both new and existing.
The Grants office works closely with City departments to develop, prepare, and submit grant proposals. Staff members manage the application process, help analyze projects and work out project logistics, write narrative content and develop budgets, and create other supporting materials. Awarded funds support ongoing work as well as innovative and cutting-edge activities, and reduce the City’s reliance on tax dollars to support programs and services.
In addition to assisting with application prep and submission, GDEF is constantly searching for potential grant opportunities, conducting outreach to City departments about funding competitions, and managing an archive of the City’s funding history.
GDEF also provides robust post-award support to departments managing grant awards. Our staff reviews all grant contracts, monitors the federal funding landscape for grant guidance updates and legislative developments, and provides training and technical assistance to departments at all stages of the grant lifecycle.
This department works exclusively with City departments; we do not provide support to individual residents or businesses. If you are an individual or business owner looking for financial or technical assistance, check out the resources below.
Contact Information
Monday - Wednesday
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday
8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Friday
8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
50 Evergreen Ave.
Somerville, MA 02145
United States
Employee Directory
Applying for grants in the City of Somerville is a collaborative process. No single individual or department makes the decision to apply for a grant — it is always a team approach with many parties determining whether pursuing a grant is in the best interest of the City and its constituents. The grants that the City of Somerville pursues generally work toward the following goals:
- Improving public safety for residents by helping the Police and Fire departments secure funding for equipment, training, harm reduction efforts, alternative response, and other needs;
- Ensuring the continuation and/or expansion of human and social services provided by the Health and Human Services Department and all of its divisions, including the Council on Aging, Office of Food Access and Healthy Communities, Office of Prevention, and more;
- Addressing concerns about the physical environment in our densely-packed community, through projects that range from park and playground renovations to new energy reduction and clean air initiatives;
- Supporting new and existing artistic and culturally-relevant programming offered by the Somerville Arts Council, Somerville Public Libraries, and other City departments.
GDEF and the appropriate City department are generally the first ones to assess a potential grant opportunity, with oversight from the Mayor’s Office and Finance Department. The Grants staff determines if the City of Somerville is a viable candidate and how competitive the application process will be, based on past precedent and our experience with the funder. We also use ongoing intra-departmental communication to determine if the grant lines up with the City’s and Mayor’s future plans. Department managers and their staff may consider grant opportunities from a different vantage point by asking: “Does this align with our departmental goals, current initiatives, and future plans?”
Once an assessment is complete and the decision has been made to apply for funding, GDEF works closely with the appropriate department to develop a work plan and establish a timeline for the application process to ensure a competitive and complete proposal is submitted by the deadline. GDEF coordinates meetings with the department liaison or project lead to hash out the fine details of their project and then drafts various elements of the proposal, including the narrative, project budget, and letters of support.
After a proposal is submitted to the grantor, it’s simply a waiting game until the grantor announces the awards. This can vary from a few weeks to almost a year. If the grantor informs the City that a grant has been awarded, the next steps include executing a contract or grant agreement and preparing any additional required documentation. One essential step in the award acceptance process is a City Council vote; according to Massachusetts General Law, the City Council must vote to accept the grant award and provide authority to expend grant funds.
If the City is not awarded a grant, GDEF and the City department assess why this happened, with GDEF often contacting the funder for feedback. This process can inform future discussions about whether to apply for the same grant at another time.
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Somerville Health and Human Services Human Services Division was awarded $304,954 through the MA Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to open and maintain a Winter Warming Center at the Cummings School. The Warming Center provides a warm, safe place to sleep for Somerville residents experiencing homelessness during the coldest months of the year, providing meals, snacks, drinks, case management services, healthcare enrollment assistance, and resource navigation. |
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Somerville Health and Human Services Prevention Division was granted $30,000 through the RIZE Mass Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership to fund Public Health Vending Machines. These kiosks provide 24/7 free health supplies to Somerville residents, including items such as personal care (toothbrushes, wipes), overdose safety (Narcan, fentanyl test strips), sexual & reproductive health (condoms, emergency contraception), and seasonal & safety (gloves, blankets). Public Health Vending Machines can be found at the West Branch Library and in East Somerville outside Project Soup. |
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Somerville Arts Council was granted $50,000 through the Somerville Job Creation and Retention Trust Fund for continued support at Nibble Kitchen: a small business incubator and culinary-cultural exchange that rotates between different culinary entrepreneurs to try out their own unique menu ideas. Try it out for yourself at their brick-and-mortar location at Bow Market in Union Square! |
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Somerville Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development Mobility Division was awarded $2,510,000 through two State grants (Community One Stop for Growth and Community Mitigation Fund) to pursue Phase 1 of Union Square Plaza and Streetscape Project, a community-driven, people-focused redesign project that will add 1.3 acres of open space to Union Square. Union Square is Somerville’s oldest commercial district, once acting as a Union soldier recruiting station during the Civil War. Phase 1 will include the redesign and construction of Prospect Street, Webster Avenue, and Concord Avenue. |
GDEF office works with other City departments to prepare and submit grants to fund municipal programs, projects, and initiatives. The Grants office is not equipped to work with individual residents or business owners to secure funding for their own needs and purposes. The following are suggested resources for residents who are looking for project funding, housing assistance, or business development support:
- Somerville Arts Council - Local Cultural Council grants for artists, schools, and organizations
- For help starting or maintaining a business in Somerville visit the Somerville Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development - Business Development Division.
- For help affording or maintaining property in Somerville visit the Somerville Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development - Housing Division.
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