On Thursday, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced $2 million in grants to 59 organizations across the state through the Massachusetts 250 Grant Program, an initiative administered by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) that supports marketing initiatives and events commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. This is the second round of grants through this program, which provided $1.5 million in grants through the first round in September 2024.
Funded projects range from immersive historical tours and exhibits, to community festivals and educational programming. Many initiatives focus on sharing narratives from Indigenous communities, Black and Latino residents, LGBTQ+ individuals, and women who shaped Massachusetts’ revolutionary legacy.
“The enthusiasm for MA250 is visible all across the state, with exciting events and exhibitions happening every day and visitors from across the country and the globe coming to town to take part. With this round of MA250 grants, we’re reinforcing our investments to tell the story of Massachusetts, from our revolutionary roots to the vibrant, inclusive state we are today,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These projects honor our shared history while telling the stories that have been left untold for too long, strengthening local economies and shaping a statewide celebration of our values and our future.”
“Massachusetts was the birthplace of the Revolution, and today, we’re helping communities across Massachusetts share the full depth of that story,” said Kate Fox, Executive Director, Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism. “These grants will bring history to life in new and exciting ways as we approach 2026.”
Of the 59 projects across the state funded this round, several are located near the Franklin-Medway area, including Discover Central MA, which will receive $50,000 for its Central MA250 Revolutionary Firsts Trail campaign that highlights the region’s Revolutionary history through digital content, trail maps, and event promotion.
Other funded projects include Nipmuc Indian Development Corporation, in Grafton, for “The Hidden Census: Data as Resistance – Visualizing the Presence of Black and Nipmuc People During the Revolutionary Era in Central Massachusetts,” which received $60,000; Discover Central Mass., which received $50,000, Musicians of the Old Post Road, based in Weston, which was awarded $12,500 toward creating a program called “Musical Circles of Benjamin Franklin,” consisting of compositions by Ben or his friends and contemporaries, and MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau, a group that the Town of Franklin partners with, which received some $45,000 for” Revolutionary Paths: 250 Stories that Ignited Change.”
About Massachusetts 250
The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT) commemorates Massachusetts’ role in the American Revolution with the Massachusetts 250 campaign, celebrating 250 years of the country’s independence and the state’s revolutionary spirit. The statewide campaign highlights often-told stories like Paul Revere’s ride while uplifting underrepresented voices and unveiling untold stories with hundreds of events presented across the Bay State. For more information, please visit massachusetts250.org and follow the campaign on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads.
