At a media conference yesterday, MOTT Executive Director Keiko Orrall along with MA Gov. Charlie Baker and LtGov. Karen Polito announced awards totaling $2M in Destination Development Capital Grants from federal ARPA funds to 34 Massachusetts tourism organizations.

Grant winners include:

• Berkshire Gateway Preservation, Inc.: $12,900 for construction of a performance pavilion in Lee
• Old Sturbridge Village: $39,750 for repairs to the Center Meetinghouse
• Spirit of Springfield: $28,000 for improved signage
• Irish Cultural Center Inc. of Western New England: $120,000 to refurbish 4th floor space into a 220-seat performance center

Gov. Baker said:

"Massachusetts' tourism and cultural sectors are vital to the fabric of the Commonwealth, and will continue to be an important part of our economic recovery in the coming months. "We are proud to support these facilities which are also great examples of the types of unique places that would benefit from our spending plan to put $100 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act toward cultural facilities and tourism assets across the state.”