A West Tisbury affordable housing project got a large boost last week with the announcement of a major state grant.

The Scotts Grove apartments, a nine-unit project planned by the Island Housing Trust, will receive $900,000 through the Community Scale Housing Initiative, a new program aimed at increasing affordable housing around the state. The grant was announced in a press release late last week.

The $2.9 million Scotts Grove project is planned for an area near the old fire station. West Tisbury voters have strongly backed the project, among other things agreeing to contribute $1.4 million in Community Preservation Act funds.

Community Scale Housing is a joint initiative of the Department of Housing and Community Development and MassHousing.

Island Housing Trust executive director Philippe Jordi said this week that a groundbreaking is planned for late September at Scotts Grove.