ADM Donates Cash, Furniture to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth

CARVER – The A.D. Makepeace Company (ADM) recently donated more than $6,700 in cash and a truckload of furniture to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth.

The donation was the result of a unique internal fundraiser, explained ADM Chief Executive Officer James Kane: The company had accumulated a supply of furniture and accessories used for staging model homes at Redbrook in Plymouth, and at the model apartment at 35 Rosebrook in Wareham. With no future need for the furniture, ADM offered it for sale to employees in a silent auction, enabling the staff to acquire furnishings and greatly discounted prices.

All proceeds from the sale were donated to Habitat.

In addition, items not sold at the auction were brought to Habitat’s ReStore, a shop located at 160 N. Main Street in Carver that sells a constantly changing inventory of diverse, high-quality donated merchandise to the public at a fraction of the retail price, while diverting reusable household items and building materials from area landfills. ReStores are used by Habitat affiliates throughout the United States to raise money for operations and affordable home construction.

“We’re always thrilled to support the good work that Habitat does,” Mr. Kane said. “This was a classic win-win.”

According to Amy Belmore, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth, the A.D. Makepeace Company will be recognized as a sponsor at the organization’s Hearts and Hammers Gala on November 1. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available at givebutter.com/hfhgala24.

“We are tremendously grateful to A.D. Makepeace for this unique and creative way to support our affordable housing mission work, as well as our social enterprise, the ReStore.  Not only have they continued to be a generous donor for us over the years, but they also provided important skilled labor and resources for the home we just completed in August. I’m certain these wonderful furnishings will be snapped up quickly and enjoyed by ReStore shoppers” said Belmore.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization that builds strength, stability and self-reliance. Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and resources to help low-income families improve their shelter conditions. Habitat for Humanity was founded on the conviction that everyone should have a simple, durable place to live in dignity and safety, and that decent shelter should be a matter of conscience and action for all. Visit www.hfhplymouth.org for more information.

The 170-year-old A.D. Makepeace Company is developer of the award-winning Redbrook, North America’s largest cranberry grower, the largest private property owner in eastern Massachusetts, and a recognized leader in environmentally responsible real estate development and stewardship. Visit admakepeace.com for more information.

Redbrook Water System Honored

BOSTON – In honor of National Drinking Water Week, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) announced today that 45 public water systems, four certified operators, and one childcare center have received awards for their noteworthy performance during 2023. Awardees demonstrated excellent water service to the public, no violations or compliance issues, and efforts that support overall public water supply service.

Among those honored was Agawam Springs Water Company, a subsidiary of the A.D. Makepeace Company which provides water to the residents of Redbrook.

“Water is our most valuable natural resource, and it takes the work of experienced professions to protect it from pollution, promote conservation, and build infrastructure to handle our future needs,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “National Drinking Water Week is the perfect time to honor these dedicated water suppliers and professionals who work every day to supply clean, safe, and healthy drinking water to millions of residents across Massachusetts.”

“Clean and sufficient drinking water doesn’t happen by accident. It’s because of the hard work of people like those being recognized today,” said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. “I’m honored to publicly commend these water systems and operators for their exceptional service and distinguished work protecting the health of their communities.”

For 38 years, MassDEP has recognized and awarded exemplary systems that have reached meritorious service for their work during the previous calendar year. Today’s public ceremony honoring the 2024 award recipients was held at the Devens Community Center in Devens, MA.

Read more here.

Tools Needed

Our partners at the Marion Institute are seeking assistance in securing tools for the Frogfoot Farm – Neighbors Feeding Neighbors initiative! As a start-up farm-to-food relief and gleaning program, Frogfoot Farm will dramatically increase the amount of fresh, nutrient-dense, and culturally relevant produce available to our food relief partners across Southeastern Massachusetts.

You can participate in this wonderful and important endeavor by donating new or gently used tools. The Farm’s wish list is below. If you can help, please send an email to rhiggins@marioninstitute.org. Thank you!

• 1 Garden Cart

• 4 Wheelbarrows

• 8 Pointed Shovels – short handle or long handle

• 2 Flat Spades

• 4 Bow Rakes

• 4 Spring Rakes

• 1 Post Pounder

• 2 300′ Measuring Tapes

• 4 Regular Measuring Tapes

• 4 Mulch Forks

• 4 Digging Forks

• 10 Hand Trowels

• 2 Hammers

• 2 Crowbars

• 2 Mallets

• 2 Pry Bars

• 1 Wrench Set

• Eye Protection Glasses

• Ear Protection (muffs or new foam plugs)

• 2 – 5 Gallon Gasoline Cans

• 4 Gardening Buckets

• Various Stand-Up Gardening Hoes

• Flame Weeder

• 5-Gallon Buckets – clean, with lids!

• Aluminum Trash Cans with Lids

• 1 Operational Farm Truck

A.D. Makepeace Companies, Redbrook To Celebrate Earth Day By Planting “Tiny Forest”

PLYMOUTH – To celebrate Earth Day 2024, the A.D. Makepeace Companies, in coordination with Sustainable Redbrook, today announced the creation of a Miyawaki Forest at Redbrook. Commonly referred to as a pocket forest or tiny forest, the effort will bring more than 300 native plants to the River Run Way entrance of Redbrook. The forest planted at Redbrook will be the first Miyawaki Forest in the southeastern part of Massachusetts.

The Miyawaki Forest concept focuses on planting biodiverse, native, pocket-sized forests that lead to cooling, increased biodiversity, and carbon sequestration, among other benefits. The forests are typically installed in urban areas, with at least eight already growing or planned in Massachusetts, ranging from 1,100 square feet to 4,300 square feet.

The A.D. Makepeace Company’s Read Custom Soils (RCS) division will partner with the Redbrook Community to use the site as a pilot project for evaluating various types of engineered soils that best help the forests sequester carbon, provide tree canopy, and deliver habitat and environmental benefits. The project will be open to Redbrook residents, interested landscape architects, climate resiliency scientists, and interested members of the public to visit and engage.

Sustainable Redbrook, a group of Redbrook residents, identified the site at the entry to the community as an ideal location to showcase the project.  Members of Sustainable Redbrook and Redbrook staff walked the site and refined the plan.  Their involvement will continue with maintenance and documentation of the forest.

“Something that Redbrook residents have in common is a sophisticated understanding of environmental issues and concern for the planet,” said Dan Gorczyca, project executive for Redbrook. “This will be a great opportunity for all of us to watch the forest grow and be part of its success.”

Site work is expected to begin this spring. The first step is to tree-spade some trees already existing on site, which Project Manager Evan Miller, RLA ASLA, said will be transplanted to the new Redbrook Square property.

Next, two feet of compacted soils at the River Run Way site, home of the Redbrook sales trailer before the Meeting House was constructed, will be removed and replaced with the RCS’s proprietary Miyawaki Forest Planting Soil. The blend includes coarse sand, natural base loam, mature leaf compost, biochar and a mycorrhizal fungi inoculant.  After planting, an additional four to six inches of RCS Miyawaki Forest Floor Layer will be placed over the soil and around the 350 new plantings in the 2,000-square-foot space. Though small at the time of planting, these densely planted young whips simulate the layers of a natural forest and allow for rapid growth of tree species, sub species, shrubs, and groundcover and can help to create a forest in just 20 to 30 years.

“We see this as a way for municipal officials and landscape professionals to see how a Miyawaki Forest could work in their own community,” said Jim Kane, president and chief executive officer of the A.D. Makepeace Company. “In an urban setting, it can mitigate heat islands, provide a habitat for beneficial insects and pollinators, and beautify a neighborhood.”

The tiny forest method thrives best when many native plants are introduced to an area that has been properly prepared, thus allowing the plants to grow quickly, with a canopy layer reaching mature height and shading smaller trees and shrubs. This site will allow visitors to walk through this emerging ecosystem and compare its growth with the neighboring established native pine barrens forest.

“Sustainable Redbrook embraces the Miyawaki tiny forest concept and looks forward to assisting in the installation and maintenance of this exciting project,” the organization said in a prepared statement. “Not only will our Redbrook Pollinator Pathway be further enhanced due to the Miyawaki Forest biodiversity, but this project will also help to create a greener and healthier future for our Redbrook community while providing a warm and inviting welcome for all who visit Redbrook every day.”

The A.D. Makepeace Company is evaluating area sites for another similar installation.

The 169-year-old A.D. Makepeace Company is developer of the award-winning Redbrook, North America’s largest cranberry grower, the largest private property owner in eastern Massachusetts, and a recognized leader in environmentally responsible real estate development and stewardship. Visit admakepeace.com for more information.

Redbrook Nets Seven More Prism Awards

BOSTON – The Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston (BRAGB) presented Team Redbrook with another seven Prism Awards at a recent awards ceremony. The annual awards celebrate the best of the best in the region’s residential building industry.

Redbrook Project Executive Daniel Gorczyca noted that five of the seven awards went to individuals who work on the project who were recognized for their hard work and professionalism.

“This speaks to the excellence of the team we have recruited,” Gorczyca said.

Abby Hecke, Redbrook’s office manager, received two Gold awards, for Most Valuable Team Player and Rising Star of the Year.

Amy Mencis netted a Gold for Best Project Marketing and Sales Person of the Year; Cecelia McGonagle of The Valle Group won a Silver for Best Sales Person of the Year; and a Silver for Best Project Manager of the Year went to Redbrook’s Evan Miller.

Overall, Redbrook won a Silver for Best Multi-Unit for Sale Community, and one of the Redbrook builders, Whitman Homes of Canton, won a Silver for Best Attached Townhome.

The company introduced the Redbrook concept in the early 2000s and worked closely with the Town of Plymouth’s planning professionals and elected officials to create an award-winning design that features 1,175 residential units — including single-family homes, townhomes, and apartments — and preserves some 2,200 acres of open space and minimizes the routine car trips that make up so many of Americans’ vehicle miles. The village center, with a new YMCA and its child care facility, restaurants, medical offices, and other amenities, is a quick walk from any Redbrook neighborhood.

Redbrook has won a total of 49 of the prestigious Prism awards since the new village welcomed its first homeowners in 2015.

BRAGB, a trade association affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders and Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Massachusetts, has represented the industry since 1944. BRAGB has evolved into one of the leading trade associations in New England. With over 390 member companies, including single-family, multifamily builders, and commercial builders and remodeling contractors, BRAGB is one of New England’s most prominent and influential trade associations.

The A.D. Makepeace Company is developer of the award-winning Redbrook. The 165-year-old company is the world’s largest cranberry grower, the largest private property owner in eastern Massachusetts, and a recognized leader in environmentally responsible real estate development and stewardship.

Information about the village is available at redbrookplymouth.com.

Canopy Solar Planned for Makepeace Canal

PLYMOUTH – The A.D. Makepeace Company and Renewable Energy Development Partners LLC are proposing a plan for solar panel canopies installed over some two miles of agricultural canal in a remote section of Plymouth.

The proposal, which is subject to review and approval by the Plymouth Inspectional Services Department, is part of a multifaceted renewable energy initiative which also includes floating solar on an agricultural reservoir, ground-mounted solar arrays and additional canal canopy arrays.

The project is proposed under the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program. The SMART program encourages the development of new photovoltaic energy sources in a manner that is compatible with current and future agricultural practices. The canals are used for irrigation and bog flooding for harvest and pest management purposes, and will continue to be used as such after the solar canopies are installed.

“This is part of our ongoing effort to site innovative solar projects in areas with minimal impact on wildlife and our neighbors,” said James F. Kane, president and chief executive officer of the A.D. Makepeace Company. “In so doing, we are helping the Commonwealth make meaningful progress towards greenhouse gas reduction goals.”

Renewable Energy Development Partners submitted a proposal for the canal solar to the Town of Plymouth last week. The project will be the second canal canopy solar array that the A.D. Makepeace Company and REDP have partnered to construct.  The first project, roughly half the size of the proposed new project, is located nearby on a cranberry farm in Carver, MA and is expected to be operational by the end of the year.

“This project is an innovative approach to solar energy production that requires minimal land disturbance, creates an additional beneficial use of land already in agricultural use, and is fully compatible with the ongoing agricultural activities.   We hope it will be a model for similar types of projects done in partnership with other agricultural producers,” said Hank Ouimet, a managing partner at REDP.

The canopies require no tree cutting. The land is zoned for residential and agricultural uses.

Mr. Kane noted that the project site is zoned for residential development and Plymouth officials have long feared the prospect of having to provide municipal services to an area separated from the rest of the town by Myles Standish State Forest. In response, the company has explored options with minimal impact on services, such as agricultural and renewable energy uses.

The sites for the projects are in the area where the boundaries of Plymouth, Carver, and Wareham meet, all a mile or more from any publicly accessible roadway. The A.D. Makepeace Company has been growing cranberries there since the early 1900s.

Renewable Energy Development Partners is a boutique Massachusetts-based renewable energy project development firm specializing in innovative solar solutions. Visit redpllc.com for more information.

The 169-year-old A.D. Makepeace Company is developer of the award-winning Redbrook, North America’s largest cranberry grower, the largest private property owner in eastern Massachusetts, and a recognized leader in environmentally responsible real estate development and stewardship. Visit admakepeace.com for more information.

It’s harvest season!

As the largest grower in North America, the A.D. Makepeace Company is the first to arrive at the Ocean Spray receiving station in mid-September, and the last to depart in early November.

And as the developer of Redbrook, the new village in south Plymouth, the company is able to offer a unique perk to residents only: pick your own cranberries.

“Anyone can go apple-picking or select your own pumpkin in the fall, but this is truly a one-of-a-kind opportunity,” said Daniel Gorczyca, vice president and Redbrook project executive for the A.D. Makepeace Company.

According to Jennifer Maynard, Redbrook’s director of resident services, some 700 Redbrook homeowners and renters were expected to participate in the pick-your-own event on September 23.

ADM harvests about 1,700 acres of bogs in Plymouth, Wareham, and Carver, and with the exception of that special Redbrook bog, all are wet harvested.

Here’s how wet harvest works: Cranberries contain pockets of air, and as a result, they can float in water. For the past 70 years or so, cranberry growers have taken advantage of this by flooding the bogs, then using picking machines to knock the berries off the vines. The berries then float to the surface of the flooded bog.

Plastic “booms” are used to round up the berries, which are then lifted by conveyor or pumped into a truck to take them to the receiving station in nearby Carver for cleaning.

From there, the fruit is sent to various processing plants. Wet harvested cranberries are used for juices, sauces, sweetened dried cranberries, or as ingredients in other processed foods. Dry harvested cranberries are found in bags in the produce aisle during the holiday season.

At this time of year, the growers are hoping for cool nights – needed to cause the berries to turn red – warm daytime temperatures, and a little rain. Hail, excessive rain or heat, and other weather extremes can damage the crop at this stage. Harvest activities are typically put on hold during very windy conditions.

For those not fortunate enough to live at Redbrook, the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association offers cranberry bog tours showcasing the native red berry. Information about public tours is available on their website, cranberries.org.

They also offer self-guided tours. On the CCCGA website, click “Visit a Bog” and you’ll find an interactive map of growers in the region that welcomes visitors to their property. Most growers don’t mind if you pull over to the side of the road to take photos of the picturesque harvest. Just please remember that it’s a working farm and you need to stay clear of truck traffic, hoses, and other potential hazards.

Redbrook Hosts Second Wind Brewing Beer Garden

Kenny Semcken, a Second Wind owner and the brewery’s general manager

PLYMOUTH, Massachusetts – Looking for a beautiful outdoor venue to enjoy one of Plymouth’s top new local breweries? Second Wind Brewing has introduced a beer garden on the Village Green at Redbrook on Friday evenings.

The Second Wind-Redbrook partnership was a match made not in heaven, but on Facebook.

Alerted that Second Wind was looking for a new location for an outdoor beer garden and that numerous Facebook users had recommended Redbrook as a new site, the Redbrook team worked quickly to make it happen. The town’s Select Board approved licensing on June 20, and the first beer garden was open just 10 days later, on a Green packed with residents from Redbrook and beyond.

“This is a great amenity for the whole region, but it’s extra special for Redbrook residents, who can walk here from their homes,” said Dan Gorczyca, vice president and Redbrook project executive for the A.D. Makepeace Company.  “For us, it’s like a neighborhood get-together.”

The beer garden attracts everyone from families with young children, to couples on date night, senior citizens, and plenty of well-behaved dogs. Jennifer Maynard, Redbrook’s director of resident services, arranges for a DJ, lawn games, and food trucks to augment offerings from the locals: TrailsEnd Bistro, Black Lantern Tavern, and Cranberry Coffee Corner.

And the beer? Top quality, with something for everyone, even people who don’t care for beer.

“We never wanted to be monochromatic,” said Kenny Semcken, a Second Wind owner and the brewery’s general manager, of the company’s wide variety.

At the Howland Street taproom as well as the beer garden, Second Wind employees are not shy about guiding customers to a beer they’ll love. Like Blue Moon? Then check out “Howland at the Moon,” a nod to both the Molson-Coors product at Second Wind’s downtown Plymouth address.

The Second Wind team even takes into consideration that you might prefer another brewer’s offerings or a hard cider, both of which were on “guest taps” at the Redbrook beer garden.

Semcken envisions Plymouth as a “beer town,” and cheerfully greeted other brewers at the beer garden. “We want all of us to be successful,” he said.

The Redbrook Beer Garden is free and open to the public on Fridays from 3 to 8 p.m. through fall. Parking is available behind the Redbrook YMCA and behind the Beth Israel-Deaconess Plymouth building, both a short stroll from the Green. In the event of inclement weather, rescheduling is posted on the Redbrook Plymouth and Second Wind Facebook pages. Wine, non-alcoholic and a gluten free option are available.

About that Facebook matchmaking: Semcken posted on “All Things Plymouth” that the brewery had outgrown its Bramhall garden and was looking for a new site. After the first Redbrook event on June 30, he wrote, “Quick note of gratitude to the ATP community. In between anonymous posts about beach stickers and foggy fireworks, we’ve created something awesome on Friday nights stemming from member feedback here. The vibe on the Green has been great and we are excited for the weeks ahead.”

 Upcoming Redbrook Events

Saturday, August 19th – 5-9pm – Live Music with John and Amanda of Date Nite

Friday, August 25th – Movie Night on The Green: Turning Red

Friday, September 22nd – Redbrook’s Block Party Kicks Off with Movie Night on The Green: Rudy

Saturday, September 23rd – Fresh Cranberry Picking (residents only)

Sunday, September 24th – Fall Frolic 5K and Fun Run (visit redbrookplymouth.com to register)

Sunday, September 24th – Redbrook Motor Cruisers (RMC) car show, 9am – noon

Sunday, September 24th – Chili Fest

Saturday, October 7th – Redbrook’s Annual Yard Sale

Friday, October 27th – Trunk or Treat with the YMCA

Friday, October 27th – Halloween Movie Night on The Green: Hotel Transylvania

 

Community Farm Planned

PLYMOUTH/WAREHAM LINE – The A.D. Makepeace Company (ADM) is partnering with the Marion Institute to develop a Farm to Food Relief program to grow food for those in need.

Known as The Neighborhood Farm at Frogfoot, the six-acre farm will be located on ADM property in a remote area on the Plymouth-Wareham town line. On the site, the Marion Institute will grow food for those in need and make more local food available to food relief programs.

Members of the two organizations’ boards of directors and staffs celebrated the start of the project with a private reception and groundbreaking on site last week.

“This is a little bit of a dream come true for me,” said Jim Kane, president and chief executive officer of the A.D. Makepeace Company. He told of his grandmother and her family needing food assistance in the 1920s following the death of her father in a car accident. “How in 2023 there can still be people going to bed hungry is just beyond me.”

Liz Wiley, executive director of The Marion Institute, agreed that the project is the fulfillment of years of effort. “We are grateful to the A.D. Makepeace Company for their support and partnership in bringing this vision to life,” she said.

Both Mr. Kane and Ms. Wiley credited Chris Makepeace, a descendent of ADM founder Abel Makepeace, former company president, and current board member, for championing the project.

In the Marion Institute’s recently published Food System Assessment for Southeastern MA, a consumer survey indicated that the hardest to get food items are affordable meat and seafood, fresh fruits, and vegetables. Being able to address this issue by increasing access to fresh, healthy, culturally relevant foods and prepared meals at low-to-no cost will not only address the high rates of food insecurity we have in our region, but will do it in a nutritionally secure way.

“Our nation’s broken food system is characterized by an abundance of cheap, inflammatory, nutrient-depleted, immune suppressing, ultra-processed foods,” Ms. Wiley said. “Unfortunately, our current food relief system relies heavily on these shelf-stable products which ultimately negatively impact public health.”

Mr. Kane noted that his wife, State Rep. Hannah Kane, is a member of the Massachusetts Food Policy Council and a strong advocate for food and nutrition programs.

Through a multi-year, no-cost lease agreement, the Marion Institute will create, develop, and manage a Farm to Food Relief Program on ADM property. The shared purpose of the Neighborhood Farm at Frogfoot is to increase the availability of local food to area food relief programs in Southeastern MA by growing fresh produce directly for food relief.

The initiative will also allow the Marion Institute to launch a regional Gleaning Program that will increase the amount of local food available to area food relief programs. A gleaning program is based on the notion that every year, thousands of pounds of food goes to waste in the field because farmers either do not have the labor to harvest a crop or the market to sell it too. The Marion Institute’s trained gleaning volunteers will “rescue” this food before the crop is lost, delivering it to a local food pantry or processing center for food insecure individuals and families.

Both activities will be developed on a foundation of social justice, regenerative farming practices, education, and equitable access to fresh, local, culturally-relevant foods.

The Marion Institute’s Southcoast Food Policy Council connects and advocates for local food producers, consumers, and community leaders who seek policy and systems that strengthen our regional food system, improve community health, and eliminate food insecurity. The Council is one of several health-related initiatives for the nationally known nonprofit organization, whose vision holds that “optimal health is a basic human right, not a privilege.” Visit marioninstitute.org for more information.

The 169-year-old A.D. Makepeace Company is developer of the award-winning Redbrook, North America’s largest cranberry grower, the largest private property owner in eastern

Massachusetts, and a recognized leader in environmentally responsible real estate development and stewardship.

UMass Celebrates New Cranberry Station

Members of the A.D. Makepeace Company team recently joined University of Massachusetts officials at a festive ribbon-cutting ceremony at the newly expanded and modernized UMass Cranberry Station, which plays an essential role in supporting cranberry growers and the state’s top commercially grown food crop.

The A.D. Makepeace Company had made a significant donation to the project in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the company’s incorporation.

“For many years, the success of the cranberry industry has been dependent on the work done here,” said Christopher Makepeace, company founder Abel D. Makepeace’s great grandson and a current member of the company’s Board of Directors. In front of the newly named Makepeace Meeting Room, Mr. Makepeace and Cranberry Station Director Hilary Sandler were joined by ADM President and CEO Jim Kane, CFO Lori Flannery, and Glenn Reid, Jim Pinkston, Alex Manchester, and Gavin Bartlett of the ADM cranberry leadership team.

At the main ribbon cutting, Robert Karam, chair of the ADM Board of Directors and former chair of the UMass Board of Trustees, joined UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy and other dignitaries in praising the new facility.

The new and renovated facilities reflect the station’s position as the hub of cranberry research and extension for the commonwealth and beyond. Features of the updated facility include:

  • A new, two-story 5,000-gross-square-foot addition to the east of the administration building, attached by a two-level connector to the existing laboratory research space.
  • Two new research program laboratory facilities, two new preparation laboratories and the infrastructure to support three fully outfitted laboratories.
  • Addition of four new faculty offices as well as the relocation of the administrative offices to the new addition, with a new main public entrance and reception area.
  • A new meeting room, overlooking the station’s cranberry bogs, equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual connectivity.
  • Increased access via ramps and full-sized elevator.
  • Improvement of the station’s infrastructure, internet service and laboratory wastewater treatment and disposal.
  • A new septic system and new water and electrical services.
  • Complete upgrade to the HVAC system in the laboratory building.

An investment of $5 million in capital spending authorized in the 2018 Environmental Bond Bill and a $750,000 grant from the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance was used to modernize and expand the research facilities at the station. UMass Amherst committed approximately $2 million in additional funds for necessary deferred maintenance projects on the station.