$2.78 billion to be invested in FY23 as part of $13.9 billion five-year plan

The Baker-Polito Administration released its Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Capital Investment Plan, which provides $2.78 billion in state bond cap spending in FY23 to support investments in transportation, economic development, climate resiliency, housing, education, technology and health and human services.

The plan reflects a balanced and fiscally responsible approach to long-term planning, with funding dedicated to the care and maintenance of the Commonwealth’s existing assets as well as targeted new investments that will support Massachusetts’ economic development and growth in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to outlining state bond cap allocations for FY23, the plan charts a pathway for capital investment across the next five years, providing a blueprint for a total of $13.9 billion in FY23–FY27 bond cap spending that leverages the unprecedented amount of federal funding the Commonwealth will benefit from in the coming years.

“The capital budget is an important vehicle for enabling long-term economic growth and improving the way state government serves its constituents, and our FY23-FY27 plan supports infrastructure initiatives that will benefit residents in every corner of the Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are proud to release our eighth Capital Investment Plan today, and we look forward to the lasting positive impacts it will drive in the coming years.”

“Our Administration’s capital plan invests in critical initiatives across the state and continues to provide local communities with resources that will enable them to better serve their residents,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “With substantial funding for housing, education, climate change mitigation, technology infrastructure, public safety and more, this plan will make Massachusetts a better place to live, learn and work.”

Governor Baker and Lieutenant Governor Polito joined Administration and Finance Secretary Michael J. Heffernan today at the Quincy courthouse to release the capital plan. The plan provides $3.5 million in FY23 and budgets for $52.9 million over the next five years to continue efforts to replace the courthouse with a new Norfolk County regional justice center that consolidates court departments.

“The Baker-Polito Administration’s FY23–FY27 capital plan continues to be grounded in fiscal discipline and thoughtfully leverages available resources to maximize the impact of our capital spending,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael J. Heffernan. “The plan carefully balances the maintenance of existing state assets and investments in new infrastructure– a responsible approach that will drive growth and deliver outsized benefits to the people of Massachusetts over many years.”

The capital plan continues the Administration’s approach to strategically using available funding sources. Along with funding to support the implementation of major transportation and environmental program expansions enabled by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) over FY23–FY27, the plan provides more than $700 million in state matching funds to allow Massachusetts to access opportunities for significant additional federal funds that support highways and bridges, municipal water infrastructure and electric vehicles infrastructure.

The FY23-FY27 plan continues efforts to strengthen and revitalize Massachusetts communities. It builds on the last seven years of capital investment as well as significant state and federal support over the last two years in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has included over $2.4 billion in total from the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund and $2.9 billion in allocated state aid from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). ARPA also provided $3.4 billion in direct aid for municipalities, $2.6 billion for housing and economic development initiatives, $1.1 billion for transit, $315 million in child care stabilization funding, and $200 million in Child Care Development and Block grant funding.

Continuing efforts to protect the Commonwealth’s natural environment, the capital plan supports investments in climate resiliency measures, food security and public outdoor spaces. It also provides substantial new funding for building infrastructure projects across the higher education system, and maintains investments for information technology and cybersecurity upgrades, public safety and health and human services.

The FY23 capital plan’s $2.78 billion bond cap represents a responsible $125 million (4.7%) increase over FY22, which is in line with the recommendations of the Debt Affordability Committee.

The five-year plan will be supported by authorization the Administration has filed for across several bond bills, including the General Government Bond Bill, the MassTRAC infrastructure bond bill and the FORWARD legislation. The majority of spending in FY23 is covered by existing authorizations.

To view the FY23–FY27 Capital Investment Plan, visit: www.mass.gov/capital.

FY23 Capital Plan Highlights:

Transportation

The combined MassDOT and MBTA capital plan is funded from a variety of state and non-state sources. $1.1 billion of FY23 spending is supported by state bond cap.

• $200 million for the Chapter 90 Program for local road and bridge repairs
• $25 million for the Municipal Pavement Program, established in the 2021 Transportation bond bill to assist municipalities with roadway pavement improvements
• $15 million for the Administration’s Municipal Small Bridge Program
• $15 million for the Complete Streets Program
• $8.5 million for the Shared Streets and Spaces Program, which was started in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic to help municipalities and businesses adapt their operations
• $5 million for the Local Bottleneck Reduction Program
• $5 million for Transit Infrastructure Partnership Program

Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM)

• $171 million to continue work at Commonwealth-owned health care facilities, including the Department of Public Health’s Laboratory Campus in Jamaica Plain, the Newton Pavilion/Shattuck Hospital, and the Soldiers’ Homes in Holyoke and Chelsea
• $6.8 million ($120 million over FY23-FY27) for new major higher education projects at Massasoit Community College, Salem State University, Springfield Technical Community College and University of Massachusetts Lowell
• $50 million for smaller critical repairs and $24.3 million for accelerated building infrastructure projects across the higher education system
• Planning efforts for the construction of a new Regional Justice Center in Quincy

Economic Development

• $97 million for MassWorks to provide municipalities and other public entities with funding for infrastructure projects that promote economic development
• $35 million for the Life Sciences Capital Program to foster job growth and innovation in the life sciences industry
• $21.7 million for the Underutilized Properties program to rehabilitate or redevelop blighted, abandoned, vacant or underutilized properties
• $16 million for research and development projects that spur innovation and enhance job growth
• $16 million for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation programs, established in the 2021 economic development bond bill, which supports research centers around emerging manufacturing technology
• $12 million in Seaport Economic Council Grants

Housing

• $151 million for the production and preservation of affordable housing in addition to programs that support neighborhood stabilization, transit-oriented housing, and climate resilient affordable housing
• $110 million to support our state-aided public housing portfolio

Energy and Environmental Affairs

• $34 million for improvements to campgrounds, recreational facilities, and comfort stations
• $17.5 million for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program to aid municipalities with climate change vulnerability assessments and planning and adaptation projects
• $12.5 million for the Food Security Infrastructure Program
• $12 million for inland dams and seawalls
• $10 million in municipal matching grants through MassTrails to enhance and maintain shared use paths and recreational trails
• $8.3 million for Greening the Gateway Cities, which has already planted nearly 33,000 trees and has a goal of planting at least 20,000 more trees over the next four years
• $8 million for grants to municipalities for park improvements and open space protection

Public Safety

• $5 million for the Protective Fire Equipment Grant Program which provides direct assistance to municipalities to ensure access to safe and reliable firefighter equipment
• $4 million for the Municipal Body-Worn Camera Grant Program and $837,000 to support a pilot Body-Worn Camera program for correctional officers at the Department of Correction Souza-Baranowski maximum-security facility
• Support for the Body Armor Replacement Program which provides a state match for the reimbursement of bulletproof vests by municipalities

Technology and Cybersecurity

• $78.6 million for technology solutions to improve operational efficiency and performance of state government
• $48.1 million for improvements to constituent-facing government applications to improve access to services
• $27.5 million for IT technical infrastructure modernization
• $11.3 million for cybersecurity
• $5 million for Community Compact IT Grants, which support cities and towns in their efforts to modernize their technological infrastructure
• $4 million for Municipal Fiber Grant Program to strengthen municipal IT security

Education

• $15 million for Workforce Skills Capital Grants to improve students’ skills and knowledge and better meet the needs of employers in the Commonwealth
• $6.9 million for Early Education and Out-of-School Time Grants to improve the indoor and outdoor space at early education and out-of-school time programs in which more than 50% of the children served are eligible for financial assistance

To view the full FY23 Capital Plan, please click here.

Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito announced the departure of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides and the appointment of current Undersecretary of Environmental Policy and Climate Resilience Beth Card as the incoming Secretary, effective May 6.

“Secretary Theoharides has been dedicated to making Massachusetts a national leader in climate solutions, including guiding the development of the offshore wind industry. Katie has done a tremendous job leading our administration’s statewide efforts to comprehensively plan for the effects of climate change, and I wish her all the best in the future,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Beth Card has a deep knowledge of environmental policy and a wealth of experience in leading climate resiliency efforts in state government, and we are glad to appoint her as Secretary.”

“Under Secretary Theoharides’s leadership, we have developed nation-leading programs to help cities and towns across the Commonwealth make climate-resilient investments in their infrastructure,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We are so grateful to Katie for her service to the Commonwealth, and welcome Beth into the cabinet.”

“I am deeply grateful to Governor Baker and Lieutenant Governor Polito for trusting me to serve the residents of the Commonwealth and to work with a team of dedicated public servants in our cabinet, at the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and across the Administration.  I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done together to increase access to the outdoors, invest in our natural resources, and deploy climate change solutions, including the first utility scale offshore wind farm, expand the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness resiliency program in 95% of the state’s communities, and create new initiatives to cut emissions in our transportation and heating sectors,” said Secretary Theoharides. “I’ve worked closely with Beth Card throughout my time in state service and I respect her leadership qualities and close work with stakeholders, legislators, and local leaders. Much work remains as we seek to fund critical climate, clean water, parks and infrastructure projects, and I’m confident in Beth’s deep expertise in environmental policy, water quality and climate change and in her ability to build and lead strong partnerships to deliver great outcomes.”

“I am grateful to Governor Baker and Lieutenant Governor Polito for the incredible opportunity to serve as Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The tireless efforts of Secretary Theoharides have resulted in the creation of critical climate change programs, investment in the Commonwealth’s renewable energy portfolio, and the advancement of the Administration’s decarbonization goals,” said incoming Secretary Card. “As we look ahead to the prospect of investing billions of dollars into our environmental, water and sewer, and port infrastructure for offshore wind deployment, I look forward to working alongside my colleagues and our many partners to continue the important work of our energy and environment programs and set a course for achieving commitments established in the Administration’s climate law.”

Under Secretary Theoharides’s leadership, the Baker-Polito Administration has advanced major climate initiatives and strengthened the resiliency of the Commonwealth’s infrastructure. Key accomplishments include:

• Deployment of the nation’s first large-scale offshore wind farm and the development and selection of its second and third round of procurements that will bring 3,600 Megawatts of clean, affordable power to the Massachusetts grid – enough energy to power an estimated 608,000 homes.
• Created a nation-leading climate resiliency partnership between the Commonwealth and its municipalities through the voluntary Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program that in just four years enrolled over 95% of the state’s cities and towns while also leading the Administration’s effort to comprehensively plan for statewide climate change resiliency and invest over $1 billion for climate solutions.
• Established an aggressive limit of net zero emissions by 2050, and developed the 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap Study, a first-in-the-nation planning effort to reach this milestone affordably and equitably.
• Charted the deployment of clean energy strategies and policies to achieve emission limits for the next decade through the 2030 Clean Energy and Climate Plan, including advanced building codes, enhanced programs to improve low carbon transportation options and electric vehicle adoption, and power sector market reform.
• Oversaw development of a critical updates to Massachusetts solar program, the renewable portfolio standard, the three-year energy efficiency plan, and creation of the Clean Peak Program.
• Launched and managed one of the largest grant programs in EEA history, the $58 million Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program, awarding funding to farms, food pantries, non-profit organizations, communities, schools, and food distributors to build a more resilient local food system.
• Helped to enshrine environmental justice protections into state law and created the EEA Environmental Justice Task Force.
• Invested over $112 million to protect more than 36,500 acres of natural resources, maintain sustainable working forest, conserve critical wildlife habitat, protect water resources, and ensure continued public access to the property for hunting, fishing, hiking, wildlife observation, and other outdoor recreation.
• Provided equitable access to the state’s park system including access to free swimming lessons across the Commonwealth.
• Committed over $1.8 million to support the DCR Summer Night program that provided fun, engaging activities for young people across the Commonwealth.

About Bethany Card:

In 2021, Beth Card joined the Baker-Polito Administration as Undersecretary of Environmental Policy and Climate Resilience in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. As Undersecretary, Card serves as chief environmental advisor to the Secretary and directs efforts that, in coordination with elected officials and external stakeholders, protect, preserve, and enhance the Commonwealth’s environmental resources while ensuring a clean energy future for the state’s residents. A key focus of this work has been development of approaches to invest in environmental infrastructure under the American Rescue Plan Act and implementation of the Administration’s comprehensive climate change law. During her tenure, the Administration successfully established an approach to investing in the Commonwealth’s water and sewer infrastructure, environmental infrastructure and state parks. Further she and her team have worked on successfully permitting two offshore wind projects in a way that balances the need for renewable energy projects with careful mitigation of fishing industry impacts.   Beth has also played a key role in advising on implementation of the environmental justice initiatives in the Commonwealth.

Beth has more than twenty-five years of service in state agencies and quasi-governmental organizations where she has been a leader on environmental policy development and implementation of regulatory programs. Prior to joining the Baker-Polito Administration, Beth served as the Director of Environmental and Regulatory Affairs for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). During her time at MWRA, Card developed and oversaw the implementation of environmental policies on behalf of the Authority that provides water and sewer services to 3.1 million people and more than 5,500 large industrial users in 61 metropolitan Boston communities. Before joining MWRA, Beth worked at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) for over six years as both Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Planning and Assistant Commissioner, Bureau of Water Resources. Her portfolio as MassDEP included programs that manage water and air resources as well as waste management. She was instrumental in work related to implementation of the global warming solutions act, the lead in schools initiative, wastewater planning on Cape Cod, and revising water management act requirements.

Card received a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Environmental Conservation and Business Administration from the University of New Hampshire and a J.D. from the Massachusetts School of Law.

Ms. Card lives in Newburyport, Massachusetts with her husband and young son.

The boards of the Chamber, the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation and Visit North Central Massachusetts met earlier this week to begin working on the chamber’s next strategic plan. They reviewed the great progress made on our current strategic plan and discussed a variety of topics that are crucial to supporting our members and keeping our region a vibrant place to live, work and visit.

We would love to hear from you. What can the Chamber and our affiliate organizations do over the next three years to support your organizations and the communities of North Central Massachusetts? Please send us your ideas and share your successes by emailing rnascimento@northcentralmass.com.

Funding supports purchase of new equipment for local day spa

The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC), the economic development arm of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce recently granted a $50,000 loan to support the purchase of a new laser system equipment for Lyla’s Beauty Bar in Acton, which offers laser hair removal, electrolysis and skin rejuvenation.

“When I opened Lyla’s Beauty Bar in December 2019, I needed a loan to help with the startup costs of establishing my new business,” said Surinee Piwchuen, owner, Lyla’s Beauty Bar. “Thanks to my continued relationship with the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation, I’m now able to expand our services to include body sculpting for customers using a new laser system.”.  For more information visit https://lylabeautybar.com.

As a microloan lender, NCMDC can provide loans to small businesses up to $250,000 for working capital, real estate, equipment, inventory, expansion and working with our banking partners to provide gap financing for the final piece of a project.

For more information about the NCMDC loan programs, please call 978.353.7607 or visit NorthCentralMass.com or ChooseNorthCentral.com.