December 3, 2021 – BOSTON – Today, the Massachusetts Legislature handed a $4 billion bill that directs federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to help the Commonwealth’s ongoing restoration, with a specific concentrate on making equitable investments and guaranteeing that communities disproportionately impression by the COVID-19 pandemic are prioritized. Using this framework, the compromise laws delivers helps to crucial sectors corresponding to well being care, psychological and behavioral well being, housing safety, atmosphere, and workforce improvement with a concentrate on serving to households, essential workers and small companies.
“The legislature has used the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that the American Rescue Plan Act funds represent to fuel an equitable recovery and support the communities most impacted by the pandemic,” mentioned State Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “With the integral advocacy of the SouthCoast delegation, this bill rises to the challenge of making meaningful investments in mental health, public health, workforce development, affordable housing, and so much more. It ensures those hit the hardest by COVID-19—families, essential workers, and small businesses—are being helped the most. Thank you to my colleagues in the legislature, in particular our local delegation, who diligently worked to ensure our residents will benefit equitably as we chart a path forward.”
“I am happy that the towns of Somerset, Swansea, Dighton and the city of Taunton in my district were able to get some money for important and necessary infrastructure projects through the ARPA funding,” mentioned Representative Patricia Haddad, (D-Somerset). “I was happy to work with my colleagues to advocate for funding from the ARPA bill as money like this does not come around very often.”
Representative Paul A. Schmid, III (D-Westport) acknowledged, “The ARPA funding is a great opportunity to address critical needs in our communities, I believe the funding that has already been secured is a tremendous first step. We will continue to fight for further funding in Bristol County as the remaining monies are distributed.”
“I was proud to work closely with my colleagues and our local delegation to advocate for the SouthCoast in this landmark bill,” mentioned Representative Alan Silvia (D-Fall River). “Facing the challenge of our continued recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19, we have been able to use these funds to support public health, local small businesses, and economic and workforce development, and address the needs of the communities hit hardest by the pandemic.”
“”I’m proud to have labored with my colleagues to go this transformative bill, which makes crucial investments to industries most affected by COVID-19. We targeted on equitable distribution to susceptible areas of the Commonwealth together with healthcare, human companies, housing, financial improvement, training, meals safety, environmental assets and infrastructure,” mentioned Representative Carole Fiola (D-Fall River). “Additionally, the $300,000+ investments to our historic North Park, Watuppa Rowing Center and to Fall River Arts and Culture and on our waterfront ensure our quality of life is also enhanced. This first round of ARPA funds will impact our local communities for years to come.”
Among the many investments that can have an effect on the complete Commonwealth, one among notable impression to the SouthCoast is $200.1 million to rework our native and regional public well being infrastructure and supply equitable entry to top quality protections for all Massachusetts residents. This funding consists of $98.8 million for public well being infrastructure and knowledge sharing upgrades, and $71.1 million for direct grants to native boards of well being to be ready to reply to future public well being threats. Additionally, $260 million might be directed to acute hospitals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The SouthCoast delegation was instrumental in advocating for a lot of investments that can assist the Commonwealth’s post-pandemic restoration in normal and might be of explicit significance to the strengthening and reestablishment of the SouthCoast’s economic system and workforce improvement. These embrace $500 million in the direction of premium pay bonuses for essential workers, as much as $2,000 per employee and $500 million in well timed aid to small companies by means of the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. The bill additionally consists of $150 million for public housing authorities to keep up and improve present infrastructure, $100 million for vocational faculty infrastructure, $90 million for marine port infrastructure investments targeted on the promotion of offshore wind improvement and $25 million for Greening the Gateway Cities program to assist tree planting.
Also, the convention committee report consists of $15 million for regional high-demand workforce coaching at neighborhood faculties, $15 million to boost and diversify our cybersecurity sector with partnerships between public greater training establishments and personal companies and $7.5 million for neighborhood faculties to assist practice underserved populations for inexperienced jobs.
Additionally, the ARPA bill included different notable investments for the SouthCoast:
•$14 million for agricultural economic system helps, together with $6.5 million for cranberry growers
•$1 million for the city of Westport to assist undertaking administration, planning, design, engineering and development of water and sewer infrastructure enhancements alongside the complete Route 6 hall.
•$1 million for Battleship Cove to assist the upkeep and care of historic naval vessels.
•$500,000 for a need-based scholarship pilot program to supply monetary help to economically-disadvantaged people who actively enroll in a full-time police academy carried out by the Municipal Police Training Committee.
•$250,000 for the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District to assist the administration of the Assawompsett pond complicated together with, however not be restricted to, the administration and eradication of invasive weeds in Long pond and different flood administration efforts.
•$250,000 for HealthFirst Family Care Center in Fall River to handle the well being clinic at Durfee High School.
•$210,000 for Frederick Olmsted North Park for out of doors terraced seating to interchange the cement stairs on the slope of the park.
•$200,000 for water infrastructure tasks in Somerset.
•$150,000 for HVAC set up at the Macomber Elementary School in Westport.
•$75,000 for the Fall River Arts and Culture Coalition for various programing in the metropolis.
•$50,000 for the Freetown Food Pantry.
•$50,000 for the Watuppa Rowing Center for ADA compliance enhancements and extra programming tools.
•$50,000 for the Hix Bridge Engineering Landing Engineering Project.
Having been handed by the House and Senate, the laws now goes to Governor Baker for his signature.