Press Releases

Today, Congressman Richard E. Neal joined Southbridge Town Manager John Jovan, Jr., Southbridge Director of Economic Development and Planning Peg Dean, and state and local officials to announce a $7,888,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant Program to support the Hamilton Street Reconstruction Project.

USDOT’s RAISE program provides grants for surface transportation infrastructure projects with significant local or regional impact. The eligibility requirements of RAISE allow project sponsors, including state and local governments, counties, Tribal governments, transit agencies, and port authorities, to pursue multi-modal and multi-jurisdictional projects that are more difficult to fund through other grant programs. Previously known as the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) and Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) discretionary grants, the RAISE program was established under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and operated under annual appropriations acts until authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in November 2021.

“Not since President Kennedy was in the Oval Office have we seen a significant investment in our nation’s infrastructure. Thanks to Joe Biden and my colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee, we were able to deliver just that with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said Congressman Neal. “The Hamilton Street Project exemplifies the transformative impact that thoughtful federal investment can have on safety, equity, and economic revitalization in communities like Southbridge. With much of the Infrastructure Law drafted in the Ways and Means Committee under my chairmanship, I am thrilled that communities throughout the First District continue to reap the benefits.”

A prominent area in the Town of Southbridge, Hamilton Street represents a downtown corridor with immense potential to contribute to the Town's overall economic growth. With a current mix of commercial use and vacant parcels, and easy access from Interstates 90, 84, and 395, as well as Massachusetts Route 20, the Town has sought to revitalize this area for several years. However, longstanding challenges, including narrow sidewalks, limited parking, and a lack of essential amenities, coupled with financial constraints, have stifled the Town’s ability to unlock the area’s full economic potential. With nearly $8 million in funding from USDOT, the vision for Hamilton Street will soon become a reality by creating a walkable neighborhood business district corridor through investments in localized infrastructure.

“After applying for the RAISE grant three years in a row, we couldn’t be more grateful to finally be awarded $7.8M for well-deserved reconstruction of Hamilton Street, a major cut-through, adding lighting and cross-walks to increase safety, drainage, improved traffic flow, new sidewalks, and paving,” said Southbridge Director of Economic Development and Planning Peg Dean. “This project will help transform the Town of Southbridge’s downtown.  We will see real impact which we otherwise would not have been able to fund thanks to our Congressmen and Senators’ advocacy.”

The funding awarded under the RAISE Grant Program will cover the entire cost of the project and enable the Town of Southbridge to harmoniously complete this project with an adjacent ongoing intersection improvement plan. The Town recently completed design work for a Massachusetts Department of Transportation intersection improvement project along Central Street at the southeast terminus of Hamilton Street and Hook Street. Roadway improvements between both projects will include new or reconstructed sidewalks, the addition of bike lanes, additional turning lanes at the proposed signalized intersection, converting a non-signalized intersection with a monument into a mini roundabout, and providing accommodations at the traffic signal for a new multi-use rail trail.

“I have had the privilege of participating in many great moments in the Town of Southbridge, including with the hotel and conference center at the former American Optical Company, Harrington Hospital, and supporting the construction of a new fire station,” continued Congressman Neal. “This is certainly one of those moments.”

This grant was one of 109 awarded throughout the nation, including one of three grants awarded in Massachusetts, for the first round of awards from the FY2025 RAISE Grant Program. For more information about the program and the latest round of awards, visit USDOT’s website.

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