Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) Local Program

Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) Local Program is a grant from MassDevelopment that accelerates economic development in designated TDI districts within Massachusetts Gateway Cities.

The program supports retail businesses, arts and cultural organizations, and cross-sector community partnerships through place-based economic development strategies including the TDI Fellows program, Creative Economy Initiatives, and the Creative Catalyst Grant.

The Creative Catalyst Grant specifically funds public-facing projects that enhance local arts and cultural infrastructure in active and graduated TDI districts, with awards from $20,000 to $125,000. Eligible applicants include retail businesses and organizations applying through a local TDI partner organization such as a downtown development corporation. Recent awards have reached $125,000 per organization.

Applications open when TDI district designations are active.

Approach - MassDevelopment Transformative Development Initiative The Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) is a program designed to accelerate economic development in focused districts. These “TDI districts” are walkable, dense environments that have the potential to attract investment, inspire a wave of growth, and transform Gateway Cities and beyond.

Our Approach and TDI Tools TDI uses a toolbox approach, hanging multiple sub-programs for TDI Districts on a frame of partnership building and community engagement. Please note that programs are only available in active TDI Districts (or graduated TDI Districts where noted). Applications for TDI Districts are currently closed.

The signature component of TDI is the “TDI Fellows” program TDI Fellows are full-time MassDevelopment employees hired specifically to provide economic development expertise and collaborative leadership in Gateway Cities for the duration of their designation in a TDI district. TDI Fellows serve as the main organizers for place-based economic development, leading and facilitating the day-to-day work of each TDI Partnership.

The program offers an opportunity to be part of something different — it’s a unique, intensive on-the-ground role that requires flexibility, curiosity, and an entrepreneurial spirit, one that is much more focused on “field work” rather than “desk work. ” The TDI Fellow cultivates a network of cross-sector stakeholders – “the TDI Partnership” – to facilitate district transformation with goals, strategies, and measurement practices.

The partnership structure is usually comprised of local anchor institutions including the city, local neighborhood organizations, businesses, and local leaders. Creative Economy Initiatives Recognizing the outsized impact that the creative and cultural economies have on Gateway City downtowns and commercial districts, TDI has significantly expanded its work in this space over time with generous support from the Barr Foundation.

Creative Cities is a creative and cultural economy ecosystem builder designed to follow a city’s designation as a TDI District. This comprehensive program runs for two-plus years, supporting five interconnected program areas: 1) partnership growth; 2) leadership development; 3) project implementation; 4) place designation; and 5) network coordination and organization.

TDI Creative Cities was co-designed and piloted with partners in New Bedford, and has since been expanded to Fitchburg, Lynn, and Springfield. TDI Creative Catalyst Grant Program Background and Eligibility The TDI Creative Catalyst Grant (CCG) program is funded by the Barr Foundation and administered by MassDevelopment TDI.

The program offers competitive grant opportunities for individuals, organizations, and project teams within active and graduated Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) districts. Applicants can apply for grants of between $20,000 and $125,000 to support public-facing projects that enhance local arts and cultural infrastructure and contribute to localized economic revitalization. The current application round is closed.

The Creative Catalyst Program has two complementary objectives: First, it aims to address wealth disparities in Gateway Cities by offering adaptable funding at the neighborhood level for arts and culture initiatives, and second, it seeks to foster collaborations between established creative entities and emerging organizations in a way that helps advance economic development.

TDI Local is a tool for small business growth available annually in TDI Districts. Local partners design a custom program to deploy grant funding from MassDevelopment locally to meet their objectives. In the past, programs have included: Funding the improvement of the physical exterior appearance of businesses to enhance the districts.

Providing small build-out grants to businesses opening in vacant storefronts. Enhancing business district visibility, marketing, lighting, and wayfinding. TDI Equity Investments are the most significant real estate-specific tool in the TDI District toolkit.

The program supports the catalytic transformation of commercial properties with the potential to spur additional transformative development in and around TDI Districts.

Through the program, MassDevelopment invests in near-term projects that activate ground-floor and commercial spaces that will have significant economic impacts within a TDI District; are consistent with Commonwealth and agency priorities; engage and build capacity in local communities and with partners; catalyze market demand and support TDI District goals; and lack other sufficient funding sources to proceed.

MassDevelopment provides access to technical experts and consultants who work on local priority projects that enhance the revitalization of a TDI District and its surroundings. Types of technical assistance provided in the past have included: Downtown urban design strategies Investor prospectus development Industry cluster analysis District financing and management