Boston (March 8, 2024) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with Representative Richard Neal (MA-01), today announced their successful efforts to secure more than $10 million in federal funding for energy and water resources, housing and urban development, science, and rural development supporting fivecommunity-based projects in the Pioneer Valley.

“Community and civic leaders in the Pioneer Valley are dedicated to making the state a healthier, cleaner, safer, and more just place to live. I am proud, with my Congressional delegation partners, to bring important investments directly to local communities and initiatives to further their goals,” said Senator Markey. “These investments in clean drinking water, expanded access to early childcare, recreational, and educational opportunities, municipal infrastructure, and technology to hold polluters accountable and ensure clean air for our children to breathe, will make a meaningful difference in the lives of residents.”

“I'm glad to have worked with the Massachusetts Delegation to secure $10 million in federal funding for community projects in the Pioneer Valley. From bringing in clean drinking water and technology to ensure clean air for our children and families to creating community spaces for our municipal members and for child care centers, this funding will make a real difference in our communities,” said Senator Warren.

“I am proud to join my colleagues in the Western Massachusetts Delegation in announcing a significant amount of federal funding that will greatly benefit communities throughout the Pioneer Valley,” said Congressman Neal. “Congressionally Directed Spending is a critical tool that ensures regional equity throughout our state. The funds we have secured will make a real difference in our region by further improving our infrastructure, investing in our children’s education, and delivering for working families. We have witnessed a remarkable surge in federal expenditure over the last three years, and this announcement will further build on that progress, spurring economic development and addressing the most pressing needs in our region.”

The Pioneer Valley is home to five projects that have received funding in the FY24 funding package, including:

·  $4,642,000 for the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission to design a new drinking water treatment plant to serve 250,000 people in the lower Pioneer Valley, including vulnerable and Environmental Justice populations located in Springfield.

·$4,000,000 for the Town of Deerfield to preserve, rehabilitate, and repurpose a 135-year-old former school building to serve as the town’s municipal offices. 

·$1,000,000 for the Springfield Jewish Community Center to provide funding for facility renovation and expansion of early childhood and K-8 childcare spaces. 

· $427,000 for the Community YMCA of Greenfield to capital improvements at Camp Apex.

·   $370,000 for the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts to develop digital resources including a mobile app and website to expand public access to real-time air quality data collected by the Healthy Air Network. 

###