The Community Preservation Act is a funding mechanism for cities and towns. A minimum of 10% of the funds collected through the property transfer tax must be used for "preserving historically important structures and landscapes." This provision allows communities considerable latitude in the kinds of projects they fund. The money can be used for capital projects or as a match when applying for funds for capital projects.

• Restoring or upgrading historic community buildings such as town halls, libraries, schools, town commons, park land
• Reusing historic community buildings such as fire houses, police stations, abandoned schools etc. for affordable housing, community centers, office space
• Provide accessibility at historic sites - elevators, ramps, restrooms, etc.
• Provide a match for federal or state grants such as the Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund
• Provide gap funding for nonprofit organizations preserving historic parks, landscapes, town commons or preserving buildings on the site

• Easthampton Town Farm. Owned by the town, providing living quarters for otherwise homeless people; house needs major capital improvements
• Winchendon school building. Large brick high school closed; brickwork and roof deteriorating rapidly; needs stabilizing to allow discussion of future uses
• Falmouth historic house. Grant to community nonprofit to stabilize Highfield Hall and convert to community center/house museum
• Brockton historic park. Olmsted designed, I.W.Morgan park needs revitalization for use as a recreational park for the community
• Historic theater revitalization. Nonprofit groups in Pittsfield, Leominster, Northampton, Boston, and many others need funding assistance to restore these community resources and revitalize surrounding downtown areas
• Lawrence canal restoration. Rebuild canal walls and restore to provide visitor attraction, generate power, and encourage greater reuse of vacant mill buildings bordering canals.
• Lenox historic building and site. Provide matching grants to stabilize and restore historic Ventfort Hall in Lenox now owned by a nonprofit group trying to reuse it as a community resource.
• Truro town hall. Funds could be used for roof restoration and major capital costs of painting and upgrading
• Charlton historic commons. Provide funding to purchase the "Militia Lot", used for training soldiers during the American Revolution, and now threatened by inappropriate development
• New Salem’s Academy Building, dating from the 1700s could be restored and reused with these funds for community use.