By Theresa Knapp 

The Town of Hopedale has received its initial grant under the Green Communities Designation Grant Program in the amount of $137,759 which includes a base grant of $125,000, plus an amount adjusted for population and income. 

“This is our first allotment that comes with that designation and we’re planning to do the LED lighting project at Memorial and the Junior/Senior High School as well as the police station and the library,” Town Administrator Diana Schindler told the Board of Selectmen as they accepted the grant at its Sept. 13 meeting. 

In April, Hopedale was officially designated a “Green Community” by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.  

“Once we spend this money, then we can apply for the competitive grants so we can do other types of projects that are on our [energy reduction] plan,” said Schindler. 

For more information on the program, visit www.mass.gov/info-details/being-a-green-community