WORCESTER — The City of Worcester’s Community Preservation Committee has opened applications for its Fall 2025 funding round, with about $6 million available for projects focused on historic resources, open space and recreation, and community housing.
According to the city’s announcement, applicants from a variety of backgrounds — public, private, nonprofit, for-profit, or individual — are eligible to apply, provided their projects meet state requirements, advance public benefit, and comply with applicable laws.
This marks the second round of funding since Worcester’s Community Preservation Program launched earlier this year. Unlike the spring pilot round, the fall process will include two steps. The first is a pre-application, designed to determine whether a project qualifies for Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding under state law. Only applicants deemed eligible will be invited to submit a full application.
City officials said the two-step approach aims to “reduce the time spent on applications for projects that are not eligible.”
Pre-applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until 11 a.m. on Dec. 3, 2025, and applicants will be notified within 10 business days of their eligibility determination. Once approved, they will receive access to the full application form.
A virtual Q&A session will take place Nov. 5 at 1 p.m. for prospective applicants to learn more about eligibility and the process. The session will be recorded and posted on the city’s website afterward.
More information, including application guidance and scoring criteria, is available at worcesterma.gov/development/document-center/cpa-funding-application-guidance.pdf.
