Day Secures $2 Million for Projects in Winchester and Stoneham

A release from the office of State Representative Michael Day:

Representative Michael S. Day and his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives recently passed legislation designed to spur economic development throughout the Commonwealth. H.4732, an Act relative to economic development in the commonwealth, authorizes the issuance of bond monies dedicated to economic development and job creation through investment in economic innovations, promotion of training opportunities and the support of local economic opportunities. Representative Day successfully amended the legislation to secure the authorization of $2 million in bonds for specific improvements in the towns of
Stoneham and Winchester.

The legislation builds upon the House’s commitment to maintaining and improving the quality of the economic resources and job creation for the citizens of Massachusetts. Under the bill, the successful MassWorks program is now authorized to provide funding of up to $1,000,000 for the redevelopment and improvement of the Waterfield Lot in the center of the town of Winchester.

“The funding and policies included in this legislation will continue to drive our economy forward, making investments in job training and upgrades to essential infrastructure improvements in our towns,” said Representative Day. “I am particularly happy that my colleagues supported my amendment authorizing future direct investment at the Waterfield Lot, which, along with the Winchester Center Commuter Rail improvements, is a key cog in the redevelopment of the center.”

Representative Day also successfully amended the legislation to include the authorization of $1,000,000 for the implementation of a pilot Transportation Management Association in the Town of Stoneham. The pilot would be designed to address mobility and connectivity gaps in mass transportation options for residents in and around Stoneham, focusing on improving the connectivity between local commuter rail and MBTA stops.

“This groundwork will allow us to continue our work in improving and increasing our transportation options currently available in Stoneham, which has been a priority of mine since I took office,” continued Representative Day. “Our residents pay the same amount of funding to the MBTA as do the residents of Malden and Melrose, but we have hundreds of fewer local transportation options due to the T’s current route and schedule set-up. I believe a pilot program would clearly demonstrate the need and demand for more transportation options and would help to lessen the burden on our neighborhoods and roads.”

The bill also provides for a “sales tax holiday” on this August 11 and 12 to spur consumer spending on an otherwise slow summer weekend. A law passed earlier this year made the sales tax holiday permanent beginning next year.

The legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration. To follow the progress of this bill,
visithttps://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H4714.