In the News

Federal money could be coming to the state as soon as next summer as part of the major infrastructure bill that was passed in November. Former Mayor of Boston Marty Walsh was in Springfield Monday morning talking about how the bill will create economic growth.

Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh was joined by Congressman Richard Neal and six area mayors at Union Station to highlight how the infrastructure and Build Back Better bill will improve communities across the Commonwealth. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Massachusetts is slated to get more than $9 billion from the infrastructure bill over the next five year. Officials said the state could start to see money from the federal government by the middle of 2022.

“I think that the additional issue here important to understand is there are a lot of projects in waiting and ready to go coupled with the fact that it’s an important time to hire engineers. It’s going to require a lot of planning that’s going to take place,” said Congressman Richard Neal.

The bill includes:

• $5.3 billion for highways, roads and bridges
• $2.8 billion for public transportation – which includes the East-West Rail project
• $100 million to expand affordable high speed internet

Walsh told 22News, “Our families saw at the beginning of the pandemic in March of 2020. Kids working from home and people working from home and we had to get them hot spots. As mayors and town managers, we had to get them hot spots. This eliminates this problem moving forward and allows families to connect.”

Secretary Walsh said this historic plan will create millions of jobs, and only strengthen America’s economy.

Original story HERE.