Fifth Middlesex Towns receive Transportation and Economic Funding

Boston - Representative David Linsky (D-Natick) and his colleagues in the House passed two Conference Committee Reports on Transportation Investments and Economic Development. H.5250, An Act enabling partnerships for growth passed in the House by a vote 143-4 and H.5248, An Act authorizing and accelerating transportation investment passed in the House 146-0. These bills will allocate necessary funds for transportation and economic development to municipalities across the commonwealth. Both of these bills are presently before the Governor for approval.

“I was proud to join my colleagues in the House to pass both H.5250 and H.5248 which will provide the Commonwealth and the Fifth Middlesex towns with vitally important funds that will enrich our communities” said Representative Linsky. “I want to thank Speaker Ron Mariano, Senate President Karen Spilka, House Chair Michlewitz and Vice Chair Garlick for all their hard work on these important bills.”

These authorizations would allow the Executive branch to borrow the funds necessary to proceed with the projects. The final decision is with the Governor.

Local authorizations are as follows:

Transportation Bond Bill

Natick

• $1,000,000 shall be expended on sidewalk and pedestrian safety improvements to state highway route 27 in the town of Natick
• $3,000,000 shall be awarded to the town of Natick for reconstruction and repair of the Boden Lane Bridge
• $7,500,000 shall be awarded to the town of Natick for construction of a parking structure at the Natick Center Commuter Rail Station
• $7,500,000 shall be awarded to the town of Natick for construction of a parking structure at the West Natick Commuter Rail Station
• $5,000,000 shall be expended to the town of Natick for reconstruction of the Route 27 and Route 9 Interchange

Sherborn

• $1,300,000 shall be awarded to the town of Sherborn for construction of an emergency access road for the Pine Hill Elementary School

Millis

• $100,000 shall be awarded to the town of Millis for repaving the section of state highway route 109 from Hammond lane to the town of Medway boundary line

Economic Development Bill

$500,000 be expended for a competitive grant program to be administered by the department of early education and care for licensed early 367 education and care providers in the city of Attleboro and the towns of Franklin, Millis, Natick, Needham, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Plainville, Sherborn, Wayland, Wellesley and Wrentham for the purpose of defraying fixed operating costs and costs associated with modifications to early education and care services necessitated by the COVID-19 public health emergency to be awarded based on demonstrated financial need and current reopening status or future plans to reopen during the pandemic

Natick

• $2,000,000 shall be expended for grants supporting small businesses and workforce development programs in the MetroWest region, including the cities of Framingham and Franklin and the towns of Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Medway and Natick
• $500,000 shall be expended for the Natick Center Associates, Inc. for economic development in Natick center to assist in recovery from the combined effects of the 2019 fire and the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic
• $100,000 shall be expended to the Center for Arts in Natick, Inc. for revenue lost due to the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic

Sherborn

• $150,000 shall be expended for the Sherborn Business Association, Inc. for revenue lost due to the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic

Millis

• $150,000 shall be expended to the town of Millis for economic development

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