Cape & Island towns receive $2.8 million for Chatham Fish Pier, other coastal projects

Denise Coffey, Cape Cod Times
·2 min read

CHATHAM - The Seaport Economic Council approved $10.7 million in grants Tuesday for 19 projects aimed at benefiting maritime industries and infrastructure for 18 of the state’s coastal communities.

The grants range from $35,000 to $1.3 million and will cover projects such as design and permitting plans, bulkhead improvements and dock and river walk construction.

'Ask Me Questions:' Cape Cod fishermen host fun, educational program at Chatham Fish Pier

Chatham received $1 million for the Fish Pier South Jog reconstruction. The money will be used to make improvements to a section of the commercial fish pier on Barcliff Avenue. Plans call for replacing the South Jog bulkhead system, relocating utilities and improving overall public access, according to Natural Resources Director Ted Keon.

Reconstruction planned for Chatham Fish Pier

“This (fish pier) is one of the most popular places to go on Cape Cod,” he said. “We have thousands of visitors coming to the observation deck to watch commercial fishing boats offload.”

Undersecretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development Ashely Stolba, left, and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito share a laugh at the Seaport Economic Council meeting Tuesday afternoon at Stage Harbor in Chatham.
Undersecretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development Ashely Stolba, left, and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito share a laugh at the Seaport Economic Council meeting Tuesday afternoon at Stage Harbor in Chatham.

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The council has directed nearly $77 million to 64 of the state’s 78 coastal communities since 2015. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, who chairs the council, said the grants have leveraged $173 million in strategic assets, enhancing local and regional communities.

Other Seaport Economic Council awards to Cape and Island towns included:

  • $1 million to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy for the expansion, design, development and implementation of a simulation laboratory center.

  • $300,000 to Gosnold for surveying, engineering and permitting for the Cuttyhunk Harbor Dredge project.

  • $176,000 to Chilmark for replacement of the bulkhead at the Menemsha commercial dock.

  • $162,100 to Eastham and Orleans for Rock Harbor Maintenance dredging.

  • $96,000 to Edgartown Lighthouse Beach dredging and beach nourishment design engineering.

  • $45,720 to Falmouth for permitting for Simpson’s Landing bulkhead.

State Rep. Sarah Peake (D-Provincetown) said the partnership between the Baker-Polito administration and the Democratic legislature has produced “boatloads of good policy.”

State Rep. Christopher Markey (D-Dartmouth) called the seaports that will benefit from the grants the single greatest economic drivers for their respective communities. The governor and lieutenant governor have found practical solutions, he said.

Contact Denise Coffey at dcoffey@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter: @DeniseCoffeyCCT.  

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Seven Cape towns receive nearly $3 million for coastal improvements