NORTHAMPTON — Pedestrian safety and utility infrastructure improvements totaling $4.4 million for an affordable housing development in Easthampton, $1.94 million to build a new roundabout in Amherst at the edge of the University of Massachusetts campus and more than $2.5 million for road improvements in Leverett, Goshen and Plainfield are being supported through the state’s Community One Stop for Growth.

Gov. Maura Healey late last week announced $161 million, from a dozen state grant programs, that will support 313 projects in 171 cities and towns, with an aim to create over 18,000 housing units, 31,000 jobs and 14 million square feet in commercial development. Communities in Hampshire, southern Franklin County and Holyoke will receive a combined $11.1 million.

Easthampton got the biggest grant in Hampshire County and southern Franklin County, with $4.4 million from the Housing Works Infrastructure Program to enhance the 91-unit affordable housing development at 11-15 Ferry St. Home City Development Inc. of Springfield is handling the $47.04 million One Industrial Lofts development at the former Hampton textile mill.

Also in Easthampton, CitySpace is getting $501,830 through the Underutilized Properties Program to complete the second phase of the Old Town Hall project. That money will make the performance venue fully accessible.

Roundabout near UMass

In Amherst, the nearly $2 million from the MassWorks Infrastructure Program will mean the replacement of the traffic signals at the intersection of University Drive and Amity Street with a one-lane roundabout. The project will be close to McGuirk Alumni Stadium, and is one of the main gateways to the UMass campus.

“This significant MassWorks grant will provide the bulk of the funds needed to build a safer, more welcoming intersection at University Drive and Amity Street,” said Town Manager Paul Bockelman.

Engineering and design of the roundabout has been supported by UMass.

“The project will reduce travel congestion and related vehicle emissions while improving safety at this heavily used intersection, particularly during sporting or entertainment events at McGuirk Stadium and the Mullins Center,” said Shane Conklin, associate vice chancellor for Facilities & Campus Services at UMass.

The town’s application for funding referenced the new mixed-use development at 422 Amity St., currently in the permitting process, including 111 new residential units and close to 20,000 square feet of commercial space. That project is being developed by Barry Roberts.

Regional roadwork

Other road projects in the region also won support from MassWorks. In Leverett, $1 million will be used to improve drainage issues on Dudleyville Road, a gravel road that has been plagued with challenges for residents in recent years due, in part, to climate change.

Goshen is getting $1.1 million to reconstruct Hyde Hill Road.

Plainfield is getting $450,000 from the Rural Development Fund to repair substantial drainage issues and replace pavement on 1.57 miles of West Street, running through Plainfield from Route 116 at Plainfield Pond to Bush Road in West Cummington.

Economic development

The grants were announced during a kickoff celebration in Worcester at the site of the Greendale Revitalization project. At the event, Healey said Community One Stop for Growth makes for stronger cities and towns.

“Communities will use these grants to build more housing and lower costs, improve road safety, revitalize their downtowns, create new jobs and more,” Healey said. “We can’t wait to see the results of these investments all across the state.”

In Belchertown, for instance, $215,000 from the Rural Development Fund will be used to renovate the 32,350-square-foot Tadgell School. That building will be reused as commercial space as part of the town’s economic development at the former Belchertown State School.

The town’s website explains that “the redevelopment of the Tadgell School is to attract new businesses to our town and provide additional employment, along with the opportunity to provide activity in our town. The redevelopment will also enhance those living near the property and encourage tourism and visitation for those outside our community.”

Also getting $400,000 from the Rural Development Fund is Cummington, which will use the money to cover some of the anticipated $5.35 million construction cost for turning the former Berkshire Trail Elementary School into a new center for town government, a regional food incubator, a business rental space and a preschool and daycare facility.

Four area communities each got $25,000 from the Massachusetts Downtown Initiative. Northampton’s money will develop a construction mitigation plan to help downtown businesses thrive during the two-year “Picture Main Street” reconstruction; Holyoke’s money will go to the first phase of implementing a Business Improvement District; Belchertown’s money will create a multi-mobile system of signs for downtown sites; and Pelham’s money will test the feasibility of a town-owned parcel, in town center, as a mixed-use development.

Holyoke developments

Multiple apartments will be developed in Holyoke through support from the state. At the Wrights Block, $400,000 from the Underutilized Properties Program will be directed to convert the upper floors into 19 new mixed-income apartments, development being handled by Urbanist Development, while another $114,000 from the same program goes to 345 Dwight Street LLC for redeveloping the Hotel Hamilton into multiple retail and service businesses on the ground floor, workforce and market-rate housing on three floors and a rooftop restaurant.

Also in Holyoke, $200,000 is going to the Holyoke Redevelopment Authority from the Site Readiness Program to support a blighted and underutilized section of downtown, positioning it for future investment. And Way Finders Inc. is getting $82,000 from the Urban Agenda Grant Program to support its monthslong bilingual training program for 30 city residents, focused on employment readiness and leadership skills.

Both Whately and Williamsburg are getting money for planning. Whately’s $75,000 comes from the Rural Development Fund to cover creation of a new comprehensive plan, while Williamsburg’s $149,000 is drawn from the Community Planning Grant program so the town can develop its first-ever master plan to guide future development.

The Collaborative Workspace Program is providing $15,000 to Holyoke Art Inc. to upgrade its Print Shop, a collaborative makerspsace and classroom, and $10,549 is going to DeerfieldRailyard LLC to establish a collaborative workspace in a large commercial building under renovation, focusing on utilizing a fiberoptic cable in a region with low connectivity.

Finally, $100,000 from the Rural Development Fund will go to Deerfield to upgrade the Deerfield-Whately Road and its wastewater connections.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.