AMHERST — MassDevelopment is providing Amherst a $175,000 grant to support the future redevelopment of Hampshire College’s land and continue an ongoing zoning study on the approximately 860-acre campus.
The money supplements a $75,000 grant MassDevelopment awarded in May, through its Real Estate Services Technical Assistance Program, that is going toward technical assistance for the zoning study.
This work is happening as the trustees for the college, which is expected to close at the end of the year, oversee the marketing and sale of the property.
Jeff Bagg, the town’s director of Planning and Economic Development, said Amherst is grateful for the continued support.
“The zoning study enables the town to examine existing conditions, conduct community engagement, and propose new zoning to expand future use opportunities, including but not limited to housing and tax revenue generating uses on some portions of the nearly 600 acres of land within the town of Amherst,” Bagg said.
Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement that her administration is committed to supporting Amherst and working with residents to shape the future of the Hampshire College campus and create new opportunities.
“This grant will provide local leaders with additional resources to put this property to the best use for their community,” Healey said.
“By acting quickly and helping Amherst plan for the future of this property, MassDevelopment is giving the community the tools to attract new investment, create jobs and housing, and position the campus for productive reuse,” said Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley, who chairs MassDevelopment’s board of directors.
Paley notes that the college has long been a major employer and property owner in Amherst, with its closing to cause significant economic impacts.
The initial phase of the zoning study has included a rapid assessment of the property and engaging with the community, including site evaluation, market research, development of a dedicated project website and webinar held in July. MassDevelopment has contracted with Horsley Witten Group and U3 Advisors to conduct this work, with the end result early in 2027 expected to be preparation of a proposed zoning bylaw and district designed to support redevelopment of the campus.
About three-quarters of the college’s land mass is located in Amherst, with the remainder in Hadley. The Amherst portion of the campus is currently zoned for educational use, which does not allow uses such as housing, commercial or mixed-use development.
Next week, there are two in-person gatherings to build on this work, both at the Eric Carle Museum, 125 West Bay Road, located at the edge of the college campus. The first is a listening session, Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m., the second a design workshop, two days later, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
All project related information, including making RSVPs for the upcoming events, can be found online at hampshirecampuszoningstudy.com.
MassDevelopment has been assisting other communities affected by private college closures. In June, the agency dedicated funding from the state’s Site Readiness Program to help communities plan for sustainable reuse of these properties, with eligible communities including Amherst, Hadley, Great Barrington and Paxton, as well as nonprofit colleges and educational institutions within those communities. Grants range from $25,000 to $250,000.
“MassDevelopment stands ready to help communities identify and access the kind of expertise they need to plan for the future of a closing campus,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Navjeet Bal.
Working with businesses, nonprofits, developers, lenders and municipalities, the agency financed or managed 538 projects in fiscal year 2026, generating more than $6.52 billion in investment, supporting an estimated 42,113 jobs and helping create or preserve 4,355 housing units.
