Tourism destinations in Worcester, Medway, and North Grafton receive combined $93K from state

Photo | COURTESY OF LPA | Architects The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts in Worcester

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Three attractions in Central Massachusetts have received a combined $93,000 from the state’s Office of Travel and Tourism.

Medway Community Farm, the Willard House & Clock Museum in North Grafton, and The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts in Worcester were among 61 attractions across the state awarded a combined $5.9 million as part of this year’s Destination Development Capital grant program, according to a press release issued by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development on Monday.

Medway Community Farm received $50,000, the largest grant of the three Central Massachusetts destinations. Founded in 2009, the 501(c)3 non-profit farm seeks to retain the community’s connection to its agricultural past by providing volunteer experiences, educational programming, and access to organically grown food, according to the farm’s website.

The funds received by the farm are earmarked for the creation of an event and education venue, including a covered pavilion, storage area, and fencing.

Worcester Center for Performing Arts Inc., the nonprofit tasked with running The Hanover Theatre, received $35,000 to install additional signage highlighting the presence of the venue and seeking to make it easier to navigate.

This grant comes on the heels of the 2,300-seat venue receiving $125,000 from the City of Worcester earlier in August, as part of the city’s Cultural Organization Grant Program, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.

The Willard House & Clock Museum in North Grafton, a destination seeking to preserve the legacy of the clock making industry, received $8,000 in grant funds to support the repair and repainting of the building’s exterior.

First opened to the public in 1971, the museum features the world's largest collection of Willard clocks. The venue received a $15 million donation from a trustee in April in support of expansion efforts.

The Destination Development Capital Grant program for fiscal 2025 was first announced in April in an attempt to boost tourism destinations ahead of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, which the state is hoping will lead to an increase of out-of-state visitors.

“Tourism plays a vital role in the economic well-being of our state,” Yvonne Hao, secretary of the executive office of economic development, said in the press release. “These grants will support updates to our cultural, historic, natural, and community resources that are important to the visitor experience, and we are excited to see these projects come to life.”

Eric Casey is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the manufacturing and real estate industries.