The Healey-Driscoll Administration Tuesday awarded $1.1 million to 12 partners to support community-led projects that protect and restore biodiversity across Massachusetts.

The Mill City was on the receiving end of two awards, with $173,157 going to the City of Lowell for a restoration project in Centralville and another $93,165 for UMass Lowell to study Oyster Reefs on Plum Island Sound.

The Centralville Habitat Interconnected Restoration Project will consist of Lowell building a mini-forest and pollinator garden in a neighborhood lacking in greenspace to boost biodiversity, restore habitat, and increase community connection to nature in the city.

The project includes planting native species that will support wildlife, educational signage to increase biodiversity awareness and stewardship, and an educational component with Lowell Public Schools, as the project will be located between two schools.

The UMass Lowell project involves oysters, which are considered ecosystem engineers, creating habitat for marine life, filtering clean water, enhancing resilience, and contributing to the blue economy.

The effort will survey marine biodiversity associated with three oyster reefs in the Plum Island Sound estuary, identify unique genetic properties of native oysters, support oyster conservation and restoration.

This collaborative research project will engage UMass Lowell students and middle school students from the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell.

The Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game’s (DFG) Community Biodiversity Grant Program supports a wide range of impactful projects that build capacity for monitoring, habitat stewardship, and restoration, pilot innovative biodiversity-friendly practices for buildings, create new pollinator gardens and urban forests, and expand education and awareness.

“These grant awards represent a meaningful investment in the future of our planet and the resilience of communities across Massachusetts,” said Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer. “By supporting these projects, we are not only protecting our state’s biodiversity, but also strengthening the natural systems that absorb carbon, safeguard water resources, and buffer us against the growing impacts of climate change. We are proud to support the local leaders driving this work forward, and we look forward to the lasting benefits these efforts will deliver for ecosystems and people alike.”

In 2025, Governor Maura Healey established the Massachusetts Biodiversity Goals, an ambitious, whole-of-government approach to rebuild biodiversity and invest in nature to sustain our health and well-being, food security, economy, and way of life. The plan sets four key goals—Protect, Restore, Sustain, and Connect—each with specific strategies for action for 2030, 2040, and 2050.