Winchester Legislators Secure $500,000 for Local Priorities

BOSTON—Senator Jason Lewis, Senator Patricia Jehlen, and Representative Michael Day have secured $500,000 in funding for local Winchester priorities as part of the Economic Development and Fiscal Year 2022 Closeout Supplemental Budget agreement. This funding will support Winchester’s downtown revitalization efforts.

The bill, An Act relating to economic growth and relief for the Commonwealth, will bring immediate financial assistance to the residents of Massachusetts. Over $400 million will be invested to support affordable housing, including allocations to assist the needs of immigrants and refugees. Health and human services groups will receive more than $1.4 billion for hospitals, gun safety initiatives, and community health programs, among other programs. $540 million will be invested into clean energy and climate resiliency initiatives, and over $500 million is directed to support early education, economic development, and community initiatives, including funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to provide relief to families facing rising energy costs.

“It’s good news that the House and Senate reached final agreement on this major economic development legislation that will help struggling families and bolster economic growth in the Commonwealth,” said Senator Jason Lewis. “I was very pleased to work closely with Rep. Day and Sen. Jehlen to also secure funding for downtown Winchester revitalization.”

"Investing $409.5 million in affordable housing will start to address the desperate shortage of affordable housing," said Senator Jehlen. "The essential human services workers deserve and need the $225 million in rate increases to raise their pay. Nursing homes and rest homes are struggling to survive, and the $195 million in assistance with their added costs due to COVID is important."

“I appreciate the support of my colleagues in the House who initially adopted this funding request, and of Senator Lewis and Senator Jehlen in helping to preserve these funding directives in the final legislative package,” said Representative Day. “This funding will greatly help Winchester’s desires to improve our downtown experience and will provide our community with an essential funding stream to adequately plan and implement changes that will modernize our downtown while preserving the characteristics that make it so special.”

The economic development bill is now on the Governor's desk awaiting his signature.