The Patrick-Murray Administration is committed to partnering with Massachusetts cities and towns to improve infrastructure, promote economic growth, and make Massachusetts a convenient and attractive place to do business. The Administration is also committed to supporting municipal grant programs that make important local investments in public safety, affordable housing, smart growth development strategies, and energy efficiency.
The following chart reflects the Administration’s total planned five-year capital investments in Community Investment programs, as compared to projected FY09 spending.
Highlights of Community Investments projects and grant programs funded in FY10 include the following:
Maintaining increased funding levels for Chapter 90 municipal road and bridge projects, an increase of at least $30 million over annual bond-funded Chapter 90 investments in prior Administrations.
Funding for the Commonwealth’s share of a $125 million Essex Agricultural and Vocational Technical School project to begin in FY10. This new facility will merge the North Shore Regional Vocational Technical School, the state-owned Essex Agricultural and Technical School and the vocational component of Peabody High School. When completed, this agricultural and vocational school will provide over 20 communities with easier access to needed educational services and maximize efficiency of public and private community resources for education and job creation.
$13.5 million for Library Construction Grants to match municipal and private contributions for the construction of new town libraries.
ARRA funds for local infrastructure projects are in some cases provided directly to local governments or other agencies to manage. The Commonwealth, however, is receiving funding under certain ARRA programs for purposes of making grants to municipalities for infrastructure projects including:
$14 million under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, which funds will be targeted to communities with populations less than 35,000. The Department of Energy Resources will assist those communities in identifying and implementing projects designed to reduce fossil fuel use and emissions. The Commonwealth expects to spend $7 million of the total grant amount for this grant program in fiscal year 2010.
$9.1 million under the Community Development Block Grant program to support community development activities, including housing, economic development and infrastructure. The Commonwealth expects to expend $6 million of the total grant amount in fiscal year 2010.