{"id":16256,"date":"2021-07-01T09:00:31","date_gmt":"2021-07-01T13:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.northcentralmass.com\/?p=16256"},"modified":"2021-06-29T09:17:35","modified_gmt":"2021-06-29T13:17:35","slug":"baker-polito-administration-files-plan-to-invest-2-9-billion-in-federal-covid-19-funding-to-support-economic-recovery-communities-hit-hardest-by-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.northcentralmass.com\/es\/baker-polito-administration-files-plan-to-invest-2-9-billion-in-federal-covid-19-funding-to-support-economic-recovery-communities-hit-hardest-by-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Baker-Polito Administration Files Plan to Invest $2.9 Billion in Federal COVID-19 Funding to Support Economic Recovery, Communities Hit Hardest by Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0The Baker-Polito Administration today will re-file its plan to immediately put to use part of Commonwealth\u2019s direct federal aid from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support key priorities including housing and homeownership, economic development and local downtowns, job training and workforce development, health care, and infrastructure. The Administration called on the Legislature to act quickly on the $2.9 billion plan to jump-start the Commonwealth\u2019s economic recovery and support residents hardest-hit by COVID-19, such as lower-wage workers and communities of color.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Governor Charlie Baker today is re-filing the proposal after signing \u201cAn Act Relative to Transferring Federal Funds to the Federal COVID-19 Response Fund,\u201d which was on the Governor\u2019s desk.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are eager to work with the Legislature to put these funds to work and our $2.9 billion proposal will immediately aid those hardest hit by COVID-19 like communities of color and lower-wage workers,\u201d\u00a0said Governor Charlie Baker.<\/b>\u00a0\u201cThis plan addresses homeownership gaps in communities of color, connects workers with in demand job-training, boosts addiction treatment services and invests in local infrastructure. It\u2019s crucial that the Legislature act quickly and not hold up these important investments. Communities of color, the hardest hit areas of the Commonwealth, should not have to wait to have their tax dollars be put to work.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMassachusetts\u2019 economic recovery is off to a good start but it\u2019s crucial that we address the disproportionate impacts of the pandemic by taking action to invest these federal relief dollars in priorities like housing, economic development, job training, and addiction treatment,\u201d\u00a0said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.<\/b>\u00a0\u201cWe look forward to working with our colleagues in the Legislature to move quickly in putting these relief dollars to work on behalf of our communities.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The proposal filed today is the same proposal filed by Governor Baker earlier this month with the Legislature, with an additional $100 million for marine port development to support economic growth.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Administration\u2019s plan to invest $2.9 billion in federal dollars in these disproportionately impacted communities complements a proposal filed last week for the Commonwealth\u2019s surplus state tax revenue. With May revenues approximately $4 billion over benchmark,\u00a0the Administration\u2019s proposal for a 2-month Sales Tax Holiday<\/a>\u00a0would provide relief for small businesses and residents, especially lower-wage workers who are most impacted by the sales tax.<\/span><\/p>\n

The $2.915 billion is part of a total of approximately $5.3 billion in direct aid to the Commonwealth from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. These discretionary funds are intended to support urgent COVID-19 response efforts, replace lost revenue, support immediate economic stabilization for households and businesses, and address unequal public health and economic challenges in Massachusetts cities and towns throughout the pandemic. ARPA is also providing a total of $3.4 billion in direct aid for municipalities throughout Massachusetts, as well as substantial funding for key priorities including a total of $1.1 billion for transit. With a focus on increasing capacity for child care and supporting parents as they return to work, the Administration is also proposing to distribute approximately $760 million in additional federal funding to child care providers in Massachusetts over the coming years, and looks forward to working with key stakeholders on the usages of these funds.<\/span><\/p>\n

The remaining $2 billion in direct federal aid would stay in the Federal COVID-19 Response Fund, and the Administration looks forward to working closely with the Legislature to allocate these resources in a fiscally responsible and compliant manner.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to this discretionary funding, an additional $35.2 billion in other ARPA funding has been directed to the Commonwealth to support additional areas of recovery including direct aid to municipalities, transportation, and child care. This includes approximately $3.4 billion in direct aid to cities, towns, and counties throughout Massachusetts. The plan therefore includes language allowing a local match for numerous programs to better leverage municipal support, optimize the usage of all available revenue, and maximize the impact of this one-time federal funding.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights of the plan include<\/span><\/u><\/b>:<\/span><\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

Housing<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n