Worcester Priorities Secured Within $38.1 Billion State Budget
Thursday, July 09, 2015
According to the delegation, priorities that were advocated for on behalf of them were ultimately secured in the final Conference Committee Report.
SEE BELOW: Worcester Organizations Receiving Funding Secured in Conf. Committee Report
"I am thrilled to see that priorities specific to Worcester have been supported by the Conference Committee,” said Senator Harriette Chandler. “The FY16 budget supports important infrastructure, services, education, and public health matters that are incredibly vital to the health of our community.”
“As the state’s economy continues to recover from the recent recession, I am proud to support efforts to invest available funds in programs and services which better the Greater Worcester community,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “While no budget is ever perfect, I am particularly pleased that this budget provides increased funding to critical accounts such as local aid, education, public safety and transportation.”
The FY16 budget has now been sent to Governor Charlie Baker for final consideration. The Governor has 10 days to review the budget and to take action to approve or veto the entire budget, veto or reduce specific line items, veto outside sections or submit changes as an amendment to the budget for further consideration by the Legislature.
State Representative John Mahoney (D-Worcester) said, "With crucial and thoughtful investments, this budget provides truly integral funding for Worcester and municipalities across the Commonwealth. I am proud of the progress and commitment we have made to ensure that Worcester continues to receive the resources necessary to maintain and expand our local programs and services. I would like to especially thank our constituents and community members who reached out to us every day and asked for our support.”
The Worcester Legislative Delegation advocated for Worcester priorities which were ultimately secured in the final Conference Committee report.
Items secured in the report include:
- Coes Pond- $50,000 to support revitalization efforts at Coes Pond in the City of Worcester. The amendment also renames the beach in memory of former Representative John J. Binienda, who passed away last year after a long and distinguished career in the Legislature
- South Worcester Neighborhood Center- $50,000 for the South Worcester Neighborhood Center, which has been in operation for over 37 years and has provided services to the
- community including parent skill building, leadership development, job creation, planning and youth programs
- Worcester Pre-Apprenticeship Program- $75,000 to establish a certified training program in the building trades. The program will target low-income women and minority youth, and young adults in the City of Worcester. The city of Worcester has committed to match this amount of funding from the Worcester Jobs Fund if the language is included within the final version of the FY16 budget
- Latino Elder Program- $100,000 for the Latino Elder Program which is coordinated by Centro Las Americas. The program offers many low-income seniors the opportunity to socialize, learn about health issues, take English and computer courses, and take part in health screenings. Centro Las Americas partners with Elder Services of Worcester, U-Mass Medical, Visiting Nurses, the Worcester Senior Center and other local providers to successfully deliver these critical services to this fast-growing segment of the Latino population in the City
- Edward Kennedy Community Health Center- $100,000 to professionally train Community Health Workers who will serve as the patient link to medical and social services for the disenfranchised population throughout the Worcester and MetroWest regions
- Friendly House- $40,000 to support Friendly House which provides critical transitional support services to the populations most in need in the Worcester area. Friendly House’s Basic Needs Programs provide emergency food and shelter assistance, resume and job search assistance, housing search, and immigration services.
- Children’s Advocacy Center of Worcester County- $100,000 to help young individuals who may be victims of physical and sexual abuse through advocacy, counseling and other coordinated efforts
- Worcester Recovery High School- $1,000,000 to establish 2 new recovery high schools in Massachusetts, one of which will serve students from the City of Worcester
- UMass Memorial EMS- $80,000 to provide tactical EMS support to the Massachusetts State Police STOP Team. The Massachusetts State Police STOP Team is tasked with responding to any crisis across the state, including hostage situations, barricaded subjects, high risk warrant service and riot control. This funding will support operations and training as well as the purchase of protective gear and equipment
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute School of Excellence Program- $1,400,000 for the Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science, a public and co-educational school that enrolls academically accelerated 11th and 12th graders
- Worcester Talking Book Library- $446,828 for the Worcester Talking Book Library (located at the Worcester Public Library), which provides free services to Massachusetts residents of any age who are unable to read traditional print materials due to a visual or physical disability
- Worcester Department of Public Works & Parks- $35,000 for continued maintenance upkeep of the MA statewide Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial
- Dismas House- $100,000 towards the provision of key educational, recovery, and reentry programs for former prisoners
- CASA Worcester- $150,000 to allow Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)Worcester, which currently serves the largest number of children in the state, to serve an additional 120+ children to match the recent jump in new care and protection cases at the Worcester Juvenile Court
- Tree Replanting in Worcester- $50,000 to replace trees lost as a result of the devastating Asian Longhorned Beetle infestation in Worcester
- UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center Down Syndrome Clinic- $150,000 for the UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center Down Syndrome Clinic based on a patient-centered medical home concept and ensures full operation of the clinic, which serves children with multiple complex health challenges
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