CHARLEMONT — Thanks to support from a grant and a legislative earmark, Charlemont is getting its first electric vehicle chargers.

The town received a $20,000 Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program grant. With that money, it will install an electric vehicle charging station at Hawlemont Regional School. The grant will cover the cost of the equipment and the town will pay slightly less than $30,000 for the installation, which will be covered using part of a $500,000 legislative earmark.

“We believe it is important to have charging capabilities in the village center,” said Selectboard member Valentine Reid. “We believe it will be a positive impact for residents.”

The town also hoped to install electric vehicle chargers at the Charlemont Fairgrounds, but found they did not have the right infrastructure, according to Town Administrator Sarah Reynolds.

Town officials also applied for funding through the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program, but they have not heard back about whether they will be awarded funding. Charlemont’s Neighbors Convenience Store, Avery’s General Store, Cold River Package & Market, and Native and Himalayan Views all applied for the grant in partnership with the town. Reynolds indicated that there will be some cost to the businesses if they end up participating.

“I think it is a good project. It is clear that we are migrating from gas engines to electric vehicles,” said Bob Pollak, a friend representing Native and Himalayan Views owner Sonam Lama. “Having recharging stations in his store could help business.”

Once the chargers are installed, the town can apply to participate in a rebate program to get money back to help cover the cost of electricity used by the vehicle users, Reynolds said.

“We are being encouraged to do this because [state initiatives] want people to switch to electric vehicles,” Reynolds added. “As a town, we will need them eventually.”

Reid explained the Selectboard was interested in taking on the project of getting electric vehicle charging stations so that people would visit stores in the village center.

“We believe with electric chargers it will be an attraction for individuals to visit local businesses,” he said.

He added that, anecdotally, he has seen an increased number of neighbors and visiting tourists using electric vehicles in recent years, so it is important to add charging capabilities in Charlemont.

Also in the pipeline of clean energy efforts is a project to apply for a grant to get more efficient heat pumps for the historic 1892 Goodnow Hall, which is used as the Town Hall. This effort will save money and reduce the town’s reliance on fossil fuels.

Reach Bella Levavi at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.