Woburn Earmarks Include Opioid Awareness, English Instruction

WOBURN, MA -- The state budget passed includes $10,000 for Woburn to increase substance abuse awareness and education and $100,000 for English language instruction for immigrants and refugees, according to a press release issued after the budget was passed by the two state representatives and the state senator that represent Woburn. The $10,000 will go to the Woburn Coalition Against Substance Abuse , while the $100,000 in state funding will go to English at Large, a Woburn-based nonprofit that provides voluntary English language tutoring and instruction to adult learners, according to the press release issued by state Reps. Jim Dwyer (D-Woburn), Jay Kaufman (D-Lexington) and state Sen. Cindy Friedman (D-Lexington).

"Individuals that have immigrated to Massachusetts from another country often face English language barriers, which pose challenges to those individuals as they seek to integrate into American society, including difficulty gaining employment, communicating their needs to health professionals, and accessing community resources," Friedman said in the statement. "This funding would provide greater resources for English language learners, empowering them to contribute to and thrive in their communities."

The budget also includes $9.1 million in Chapter 70 education funding for Woburn, as well as $6.2 million in unrestricted general government aid. Those numbers were up from $8.7 million and $6 million, respectively, in last year's budget.

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