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 FY10 spending.
$155 million funding level for Chapter 90 municipal road and bridge projects, a $35 million increase over the annual funding level when the Patrick-Murray Administration took office.
$7 Million to support the Cultural Facilities Fund, for improvements and renovations of community-based cultural organizations across the state.
Budgeted the Commonwealth’s share of the $125 million Essex Agricultural and Vocational Technical School project. 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, which will serve 20 communities
$9 million for Library Construction Grants to match municipal and private contributions for the construction of new municipal libraries.
Continuing waterfront improvement and repair projects in Beverly and Barnstable, in addition to $8 million of other harbor-related investments through the Seaport Council.
Through the state’s investment of $10 million, the Water Pollution Abatement Trust will access federal funds and bond funds to provide $400 million of investment in local water infrastructure.
Funding to convert a vacant state building adjacent to the Rose Kennedy Greenway into a public market to offer a variety of local and culturally significant food products.
Massachusetts was also recognized nationally for having obligated and broken ground on all 110 of its ARRA waterworks projects. The Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust has been awarded $133.1 million of ARRA funding for local wastewater infrastructure projects and $52.2 million for local drinking water projects. In FY11, the Trust expects to expend $68 million and $20 million of these amounts on wastewater and drinking water projects, respectively. These funds have not been reflected in this capital plan, since they are awarded directly to the Trust and do not flow through the Commonwealth.