Steven M. Sousa, executive vice president and chief operating officer of MutualOne Bank and a MutualOne Charitable Foundation trustee has announced an $8,500 grant to the Natick Center Cultural District (NCCD) to fund community public art in eight traffic calming areas in Natick Center.

According to NCCD Executive Director Athena Pandolf, the traffic calming areas – or bump-outs – were specified in a recent outdoor dining and pedestrian safety project conducted by the firm of Nelson Nygaard working with the Town of Natick.

“Traffic calming is a design strategy that aims to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists in the downtown area,” said Sousa. “As a local business with a downtown presence, we are pleased to support this effort.”