Boston (March 25, 2024) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Jim McGovern (MA-02) today announced an additional $1,153,000 in federal funding to improve health care infrastructure and expand leadership opportunities for women and girls of color.
The funding announcement comes in addition to the lawmakers’ successful efforts to secure nearly $20 million in federal funding for water resources, housing and urban development, and rural development projects supporting 10 community-based projects across Central Massachusetts announced by the delegation earlier this month.
“Central Massachusetts is the heart of our Commonwealth—and its community groups and local leaders are the heart of our shared efforts to achieve health, environmental, and economic justice,” said Senator Markey. “These projects will use federal dollars to build affordable housing for families, seniors, and veterans, expand educational and leadership opportunities, improve school and health care infrastructure, construct a community center, and improve pedestrian and roadway safety for our cities and towns throughout the Central Massachusetts region.”
“I am delighted to have secured over $20 million in federal funding alongside Senator Markey and Representative McGovern for community projects across Central Massachusetts,” said Senator Warren. “From improving our air quality to supporting our children’s learning spaces and building more affordable housing for everyone - including our grandparents and veterans, these are critical investments that will help make a real difference for Central Massachusetts residents.”
Additional projects receiving funding include:
- $655,000 for the Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition to support the Intergenerational Leadership Academy for women and girls of color to develop leadership skills to combat racism.
- $498,000 for Harrington Memorial Hospital in Southbridge to purchase essential medical equipment in the ICU.
These projects come in addition to 10 earlier awards in Central Massachusetts that have received funding in the FY24 funding package, including:
- $5,000,000 for the MetroWest YMCA to build a Regional Early Learning Center for the communities of Ashland, Framingham, Hopkinton, Holliston, Sherborn, and beyond.
- $1,200,000 for Center of Hope Foundation to renovate and modernize its facilities, including Day and Employment Programs and Independent living Support Units in Southbridge.
- $1,000,000 for NewVue Communities in Fitchburg to redevelop three vacant, blighted historic municipal buildings into 68 units of mixed-income affordable housing.
- $3,000,000 for the Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging to develop 40 mixed-income units of rental apartments for grandparents raising grandchildren.
- $2,654,000 for CENTRO to acquire underutilized and blighted properties in Worcester’s lowest-income neighborhood to develop 112 units of affordable rental housing and support 32 first-time homebuyers.
- $2,500,000 for Veterans Inc. to renovate shelter and transitional housing for homeless veterans in Worcester.
- $2,000,000 for the City of Worcester to complete the planning and design of Mill Street to improve pedestrian and roadway safety.
- $856,000 for the Worcester Natural History Society EcoTarium to create and deliver educational programs for youth and adults to discover and explore the scientific universe within and beyond the atmosphere.
- $750,000 for the City of Leominster to construct the Leominster East Side Community Center, supporting community meeting space, after school programs, and employment and training opportunities.
- $223,000 for the Quabbin Regional School District to make air quality improvements at the Quabbin Regional Middle School.
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