Housing gains earn Northampton, Amherst nod from state

By SCOTT MERZBACH, Staff Writer
Published: 08-02-2025 1:08 PM

NORTHAMPTON — With a goal of making housing more affordable, both Amherst and Northampton are among 43 cities and towns across Massachusetts earning a 2025 Housing Choice Initiative designation, providing them better access to state funding and technical assistance to support housing growth and local planning efforts.

The designations, which the communities have held for several years, come as Northampton and Amherst continue to adopt policies that support increased housing production by lowering costs and reducing barriers to development.